Northeast Asia

In this round-up, October headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation hits a 11-year low, the Chinese and Italian finance ministers promise to work on the two-way opening up of the countries’ financial markets, and the top market watchdog readies anti-monopoly rules for the internet sector.

Chinese property management firm Sunac Services has priced its Hong Kong IPO at the middle of guidance, bagging HK$8bn ($1.03bn), according to a source close to the deal.

Government-backed Chinese issuers Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co, Wuhan Trading Group and a local government financing vehicle from Xi’an ventured to the offshore dollar bond market on Thursday. They raised a combined $880m.

South Korea-based ESR Kendall Square is set to launch a W357.3bn ($320.3m) IPO for its real estate investment trust (Reit).

Chinese dairy products manufacturer Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co made its inaugural appearance in the offshore bond market on Thursday. Huaxin Cement Co also printed its first dollar deal.

Renewed concerns over Chinese chipmaker Tsinghua Unigroup Co’s debt repayment abilities led to sharp drops in its onshore and offshore bonds this week. Addison Gong reports.

Chinese property borrowers are increasingly taking a strategic approach to managing their liabilities by tendering old notes when new bonds are announced. The trend has taken off this year, and is set to be the norm as issuers become more proactive in tackling their refinancing needs sooner rather than later. Morgan Davis reports.

A handful of borrowers have been forced to close smaller loans than expected recently amid waning interest from lenders. While bankers insist there is still plenty of liquidity, debut credits and infrequent borrowers are feeling the pinch in the pandemic. Pan Yue reports.

Spare a thought for a young loans banker who recently told Taipan about his newfound freedom. I was drinking in Solas when the chap walked in on his own and ordered a Brooklyn Lager. Since we were the only two occupying the bar’s outside seating, we naturally started talking.

Bank of Communications Co raised $2.8bn from a Basel III-compliant additional tier one (AT1) capital bond on Wednesday, introducing a new perpetual bond format for Chinese banks.

A flurry of Chinese corporations rushed to the dollar bond market on Wednesday, raising a total of $1.19bn between them.

Jinke Smart Services Group, a Chinese property manager, raised HK$5.94bn ($766.1m) this week after sealing its IPO at the mid-point of the marketed range.