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The government has proposed a set of protectionist policies, apparently to bolster support for the increasingly unpopular administration ahead of a 2014 presidential election. But the proposals risk damaging Indonesia’s economic momentum. Matthew Montagu-Pollock reports.

The country could feel the impact of dropping commodity prices and slipping demand for electronics, but plans by the government to conduct extra spending ahead of the parliamentary election should help offset such weaknesses. Richard Morrow reports.

The Philippines’ mining sector has long been plagued by corruption and violence, and attempts by the government of Benigno Aquino III to tackle this have been piecemeal. But the president deserves credit for trying to resolve the issues in a deeply polarising sector. Matthew Montagu-Pollock reports.

A sizeable amount of the Philippines’ population is still considered to be living in poverty, but the country’s robust GDP growth and a rapidly expanding middle class present a major opportunity for companies, banks and the government alike – provided reforms can be enacted speedily enough. A group of market experts offer ASIAMONEY their views about the potential of the Philippines’ consumer sector.

Asiamoney PLUS highlights the latest job moves across the fixed income and financial markets.

Top 3 Asia (ex Japan) Local Currency DCM Transactions - 2012 YTD

The recent doubling of Vietnam’s non-performing loan figures is not due to a deteriorating banking sector, but an indication that the country may be ready to address and reform its bad debt problem.

Ireland made an impressive return to the capital markets last week, selling its first long dated bonds since the sovereign received a bail-out in late 2010. Its success might cheer fans of austerity, but policymakers should be aware that Spain’s difficulties require different measures.

Asia’s national banking champions are, on the whole, looking elsewhere in the region to expand their revenues and increase their loan books. But a small island of opportunity amid a vast sea of liquidity means that margins will get squeezed even tighter than they are now — and some banks looking overseas may soon wonder why they bothered.

Despite affirmations by senior regulatory officials that China will not intervene with issuer defaults in its nascent high yield bond market, industry insiders are dubious regulators can drop the habit.

Nomura’s Asia Pacific House of the Year win shows that when doing business in the region, it pays to have a local pedigree, knowledge and a commitment to Asia.

Hong Kong’s approach toward its CNH activity has, in some areas, been more conservative than Singapore and London. It’s time to loosen restrictions to remain competitive.