Hong Kong SAR

Chong Hing Bank wrapped up the exchange portion of its legacy tier two bonds last Friday, soon after raising $360m from a 7.5x covered new money transaction that was buoyed by its rarity value.

Longfor Properties completed its dual tranche Panda bond debut on July 20, pricing three and five year tranches in the middle of guidance. But the issuer had to make a last minute tweak to its plans as investors gave clear priority to the shorter term notes.

China Life Insurance (Overseas) Company’s $250m bond generated huge demand on Thursday, with final books hitting $3.9bn. Market participants reckon the issuer priced through theoretical fair value.

Shanghai-listed Shandong Gold Mining has got the green light from its board of directors to float on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

A short and limited syndication of a HK$28bn ($3.6bn) financing to support the take-private of Hong Kong-listed footwear company Belle International Holdings has wrapped up with one more bank jumping in.

In this round-up, net sales under the mutual recognition of funds (MRF) are approaching a combined volume of Rmb1tr, Neuberger Berman (NB) adds China equity capabilities, and Russian lender Sberbank joins the international board of the Shanghai Gold Exchange.

China's State Council grants PBoC more power — Citic CLSA loses ECM syndicate head — UBS beefs up Asia DCM — StanChart hires two for loans — BAML debt banker makes exit — SGX brings back lunchtime break

The week started as they all do, with promises to exercise, to live healthily, to consume at least one vegetable that isn’t deep-fried. But although I awoke Monday with the will of Apollo, I soon found myself overwhelmed by Bacchus.

After a dire first half of the year, the Panda bonds market had a busy week with five issuers either pricing their deals or revealing their intention to come to the market. While red chip real estate names still make up most of the pipeline, sovereign and local government issuers are starting to get a piece of the action, with Hungary and the Province of British Columbia (BC) leading the way.

Panda bonds are finally coming back to life after a dire first half. But although all the conditions are in place for an issuance boom, there is reason to doubt quite how high volumes will go.

Castle Peak Power Company added to Asia's growing green bond supply this week, raising $500m from its debut in the international debt market.

Hong Kong-listed China Resources Land is returning to the Panda market on July 21 after a year-long absence. The company, which is hoping to raise Rmb5bn ($741m), will be the second red chip real estate issuer in two days to price a dual-tranche Panda deal.