Greater China

The US president says China will lower trade barriers and make a deal with Washington, the recently merged banking and insurance watchdog officially launches, and Vanguard makes five exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available in RMB and dollars in Hong Kong.

Beijing and Washington raised the stakes in a trade stand-off with new tariffs, the chief executive of Hong Kong’s stock exchange remains upbeat despite the launch of Chinese depository receipts (CDRs) and Bank of China’s cross-border RMB index ends 2017 on the up.

Wise Talent Technology Services Co, the operator of Chinese online recruitment platform Liepin.com, has set the ball rolling for an IPO in Hong Kong.

Peking University Founder Group Co, BOC Aviation and Yuexiu Property Co are meeting investors for their upcoming bond plans, while China National Chemical Corp’s Swiss subsidiary Syngenta is also gearing up for a mega deal.

China Resources Land bagged Rmb4bn ($635.7m) from a two tranche Panda bond on Wednesday, marking its fifth outing in the market. But the issuer had to change tack at the last minute after investor demand built up for the longer-dated note.

Logistics company GLP has struck two Panda bond deals in the past week, making it the only issuer to have raised funds from both the interbank and exchange markets so far this year.

Redsun Properties Group has filed a listing application with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange through three Chinese brokerages.

A year after selling a $3.1bn-equivalent four-currency, six-tranche Belt and Road blockbuster, Bank of China is making a comeback with another Reg S only bond to support the initiative.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) publishes plans to bring overseas-listed tech companies back to the Chinese equity market through depository receipts, policymakers emphasise the need to safeguard against systemic financial risks, and the Ministry of Commerce slaps tariffs on US goods.

As the introduction of weighted voting rights (WVR) and pre-revenue companies’ listings get nearer in Hong Kong, Clawback columnist Philippe Espinasse sees an opportune time for a quick take on the types of companies that the exchange — which is probably the most volatile of the world’s major primary markets — readily allows.

China is embarking on a trial programme to woo its homegrown technology giants, publishing guidelines for a China Depository Receipt (CDR) listing in the A-share market.

Debt bankers in Hong Kong were back after a four-day Easter break on Tuesday to some disappointing issuance numbers from the first quarter of the year. But with a decent pipeline of deals, they are keeping their fingers crossed for a pick-up in activity.