Greater China

China may have got its second big win on the global stage, after the inclusion of the RMB in the SDR, on Wednesday when MSCI decided to add A-shares to its emerging markets index, but that does not mean the authorities can now rest on the laurels. The small weighting given to A-shares by MSCI is just one indication of how much China still has to do to upgrade its capital markets.

China Evergrande Group has announced final price guidance for its new four, six and eight year notes, part of an exchange and new money offering launched earlier this month.

Chinese bonds seem just one step away from full inclusion by the major bond index providers, following partial inclusions by Bloomberg-Barclays and Citi in the first quarter. But while some experts believe the wait will be over after the launch of the Bond Connect, others worry that China’s recent efforts to keep the renminbi stable will hurt its chances.

Chinese issuers are dominating Wednesday’s debt market in Asia ex-Japan, with two issuers launching dollar deals and two investment grade corporates announcing roadshows for transactions.

MSCI opened the door to A-shares in a landmark moment for China's reform and renminbi internationalisation agenda. Regulators, investors and analysts widely welcomed the decision, with many underlining that while initial impact of the inclusion may be limited, the first step has been taken to a rebalancing of global portfolios towards RMB assets.

Index provider MSCI decided it was time to include A-shares in its emerging markets index, making the announcement just before 5am Hong Kong time on June 21. Chinese onshore stocks will make up 0.73% of the MSCI Emerging Markets index starting May 2018.

The fate of Chinese A-shares in the MSCI emerging market index will be known on June 21 at about 4.30am Hong Kong time. While the likelihood of inclusion has gone up after MSCI’s latest consultation paper from March, experts are not expecting sizable capital inflows into Chinese equities to follow.

The Bond Connect will likely make its debut on July 3, Tae Yoo, head of client business development at the Hong Kong Exchange, told an industry event on Tuesday. While a full blueprint for the scheme is yet to be provided, what is clear is that Bond Connect investors will not have access to the onshore hedging market.

Shares in Hong Kong International Construction Investment Management Group, the property development and machinery leasing unit of Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, closed 2.3% higher on Tuesday after the company wrapped up its fully underwritten HK$9.2bn ($1.2bn) rights issue.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s Hong Kong branch made a quick return to the floating rate bond market, raising $700m from a dual-tranche outing on Monday. The lender was focusing more on price over size, with its five year proving to be investors’ sweet spot, according to bankers.

High-end solar panel maker REC Solar has tasted success with its first Asian syndicated loan attracting enough demand for it to raise $330m after exercising a $25m greenshoe.

Road King Infrastructure grabbed $300m on Monday from the sale of its second fixed for life perpetual bond this year, taking advantage of investors’ eagerness for yield.