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In this round-up, RMB-denominated oil futures are to be open to foreign investors in China, the Brics-backed New Development Bank is to issue its first loan in RMB, and GF International has launched the first ETF based on the MSCI China A International Index in Asia.

Nikko Asset Management has made several changes to its Asia business with the promotion of two senior executives in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Tingyi (Cayman Island) Holding Corp accessed the offshore renminbi (CNH) bond market for the first time on July 30 with a three year Reg S dim sum trade. Like its debut dollar outing, investors were drawn to the rare credit from China’s food and beverage sector but some stayed away due to renminbi depreciation fears.

Philippine oil refining company Petron Corp, which recently mandated seven banks for a $550m refinancing loan, has proposed an amendment related to a $475m facility it sealed in 2014.

The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) is said to have zeroed in on three lenders to arrange its financing of up to $300m.

Renminbi usage in South Africa has soared, according to data published this week by Swift. But although the country is still the only official offshore RMB hub in Africa, others are increasingly coming into the focus of Chinese regulators' internationalisation agenda. Kenya could soon see its first RMB clearing services, GlobalRMB understands.

China Railway Signal & Communication Corp (CRSC) has released price guidance on its IPO in Hong Kong, with the leads narrowing the range near the bottom to HK$6.50-HK$6.60 ($0.84-$0.85) a share.

Greentown China Holdings has opened books to a new five year non call three dollar bond on July 31 following the end of an exchange offer plus consent solicitation exercise a day earlier.

Chinese conglomerate HNA Group will hit the road ahead of its Reg S offshore bond in dollars, while its subsidiary HNA Capital has been waiting for the right issuance window for a dollar offering. The subsidiary wrapped up investor meetings in Asia and Europe last week.

French lender Natixis has poached two bankers from RBS to form a corporate advisory department for Asia Pacific.

Bond market participants were left pondering whether the sell-off in Brazilian assets had been exaggerated after a negative outlook from Standard & Poor’s triggered a rally and stabilisation in credit spreads in the country.

Latin American bond bankers say that despite a volatile couple of weeks in the region’s bond markets, there is no reason for investment grade companies to delay issuing if they have funding needs.