Greater China

Hong Kong-based financial leasing company Far East Horizon raised Rmb500m ($77m) from a two year Panda bond in the domestic Chinese market at the end of last week.

Qatar National Bank Group has opened a Hong Kong branch in a move to further expand its global presence.

In this round-up, China’s central bank will cut the reserve requirement ratio for banks by 50bp, Beijing further tightens its grip on overseas IPOs of technology companies, and the top antitrust watchdog blocks Tencent Holdings’ plan to merge two of the country’s largest videogame streamers.

Activity in the recruitment market for sustainable capital markets experts has ticked up this year, as banks looking to staff up in this area see a small but growing talent pool to tap. A recent hire by Santander in London is a good example.

Credit Suisse has named veteran investment banker Janice Hu as its new chief executive for China.

Bonds issued by the Chinese government and policy lenders saw a strong rally on Thursday after the State Council signalled a cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR), a move that could unleash hundreds of billions in renminbi liquidity into the market.

Baker McKenzie has hired capital markets and M&A partner Victoria Lloyd in Hong Kong.

Chint Solar, a Chinese photovoltaic module supplier, is making its debut in the offshore market for a dual currency green loan.

Property developer Beijing Capital Development Holding (Group) Co, which is also known as Shoukai Group, was back in the dollar bond market on Thursday after a nearly five year hiatus.

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co has managed to slice the margin and fees on a $500m comeback to the loan market.

Sichuan Languang Development Co’s onshore bonds took a beating this week after its domestic rating was downgraded by three Chinese credit rating agencies, with the clock ticking for the repayment of Rmb2.7bn ($417.5m) of maturing and puttable bonds later this month. Addison Gong reports.

If you are like me, an English football fan living in Hong Kong, it has been a month of cheering, cursing, singing and over-imbibing.