Greater China

Sixteen banks led Baa2/BBB rated Huatai Securities Co's $400m floating rate transaction on Wednesday.

Asian issuers found strong response to their dollar bonds on Wednesday, coming to the market after a rough start to the week on the back of the coronavirus-related volatility. As investors show their willingness to take on risk again, debt bankers are optimistic the pressure on the market will be lifted before long, writes Morgan Davis.

Chinese hotel company Huazhu Group, previously known as China Lodging Group, has closed its borrowing of about $1bn with 13 banks.

Chinese policy banks and corporations are planning to sell renminbi bonds onshore to battle the coronavirus outbreak, using the capital markets as a source of key funding during a challenging time for the financial industry.

The US Federal Reserve board has permanently banned Andrea Vella, formerly a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, from the banking industry for his role in the 1Malaysia Development (1MDB) scandal.

Asia's dollar bond market reopened on Wednesday amid volatility around the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus. But debt bankers in the region are cautiously optimistic about the state of the market.

China Bright Culture Group, an independent television producer, has got the go-ahead from Hong Kong’s stock exchange to launch its IPO.

A fall in equity markets last week reflected an automatic reaction to the possibility of a new global pandemic. But the more substantial effect of the coronavirus outbreak on equities may be reflected in economic performance, rather than the rate of contagion.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China is taking its toll on Asia's capital markets. Many countries have acted quickly to contain the disease as much as possible, leaving investors, bankers and companies with capital market ambitions in limbo, with many forced to cancel travel plans and work from home. The outbreak shows no signs of abating — but it may not mar the capital markets for long.

Chinese biotechnology firm Akesobio has resubmitted its IPO documents with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, two months after the bourse rejected its original listing application.

Hong Kong’s stock exchange is looking to put artificial intelligence technology to use for reviewing disclosures by listed companies.

Kangmei Pharmaceutical Co, which committed a high-profile fraud last year, has become the first company to default onshore after Chinese New Year, having failed to repay a Rmb2.4bn ($342m) bond that was put back by its holders.