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Just months before Korea enacts its covered bond law, the Korea Housing Finance Corp. is preparing to issue a bond on behalf of another bank. But the timing of the deal leads market participants to ask ‘why?’

Top 3 Asia (ex Japan) G3 DCM Transactions - Last 12-month rolling

Amid fierce competition ANZ stood tallest in Australia’s debt markets, Goldman Sachs led in M&A, and UBS was most impressive in equity and overall.

As Japan weighs under a myriad of crippling economic forces, newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has employed fiery rhetoric about his financial goals. But Abe must follow talk with meaningful action – easier said than done for a nation which has endured decades of stagnation. Anita Davis reports.

The country’s relatively slight equity market activity was offset by strong primary deal flow in local and international bonds. ASIAMONEY reveals which transactions stood out in Australia during 2012. Ben Power and Richard Morrow report.

Return-obsessed investors are increasingly ignoring the risks of buying non-investment grade bonds. But this debt is vulnerable to changes in Chinese regulations and global economic risks; a development in either will be costly for these yield-chasers. Frances Yoon reports.

Australian dollar strength has become a new norm in financial markets but it threatens the nation’s international competitiveness and many are now calling for the Reserve Bank to take action.

The Bank of Thailand enjoyed its 70th anniversary in December. Prasarn Trairatvorakul, who took over as the central bank governor in 2010 after a six-year stint as president of Kasikornbank, discusses with ASIAMONEY the benefits of being as transparent as possible and coping with populist policies.

Swire Pacific, China Mobile and China Life are all thrifty when it comes to executive pay versus earnings, according to the newly-launched M&E BDO Asiamoney Stars Index. On the other end of the scale Manulife tends to be the most generous to its staff. Richard Morrow reports.

ASIAMONEY reveals which institutions excelled in M&A advisory and equity- and bond-underwriting, and which stood out as the most impressive investment bank overall.

The region’s equity market have experienced a strong start to the year as money flows back into the asset class, but some indices will provide better returns than others.

During a vibrant 2012 local companies accessed cheap funding levels offshore, continued to acquire overseas and benefited from improving local equity markets. ASIAMONEY reveals the transactions in Japan that most impressed.