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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is breathing new life into its capital markets by easing up on rules governing the listing of start-ups in the country. The changes are welcome but market watchers have been quick to point out the many shortcomings of the new regulations, which still pose a barrier to deal flow, writes Rashmi Kumar.

Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) has mandated six banks to prepare for the first outing to the offshore debt market this year. Although nothing has been decided on the upcoming notes, the borrower is expected to return before November 2015, when its existing bond comes up for maturity.

South Korea’s Mirae Asset Life Insurance Co slashed the size of its IPO to W340.5bn ($304.8m) on June 25 after pricing the trade below guidance, following a slow-burning bookbuilding process.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has poured cold water on the stock exchange’s attempts to bring weighted voting rights (WVRs) to the city, saying its board “unanimously” opposes the draft recommendations that have been drawn up.

All eyes were on Bank of China’s landmark four-currency deal on June 24, which was divided into 10 tranches in dollars, euro, Singapore dollars and offshore renminbi (CNH). It became the first bond ever issued in support of China’s plans to extend its global influence under the "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) policy, but its success doesn’t necessarily mean there will be more, reports Narae Kim.

New issue premiums of between 20bp-40bp have helped recent FIG borrowers mitigate large intra-day pricing moves as the market reacts to the torrent of mixed signals from Greece.

One of the public sector bond market's most prominent figures — a senior funding official at one of the sector's biggest issuers — is set to retire at the end of the year, GlobalCapital understands.

The global head of capital markets at one of the world's pre-eminent borrowers will retire this year.

Peruvian government owned development bank Corporación Financiera de Desarrollo (Cofide) will begin meeting fixed income investors ahead of a possible return to bond markets.

Singapore is introducing bail-ins into its banking system for the first time as it attempts to strengthen its powers to resolve failed lenders. But those familiar with other bail-in regimes around the world will find the Lion City’s version alien.

The year’s first wave of Turkish bank refinancings is drawing to a close, with Alternatifbank and Sekerbank having wrapped up their syndicated loans.

Hong Kong IPOs took centre stage in Asia ex-Japan ECM this week, as two healthcare-related names went live on June 22 while Legend Holdings and Red Star Macalline Group Corp priced their deals at the top end of expectations.