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On paper the Hong Kong economy is experiencing a period of growth but the feel good factor is still missing. Pauline Loong talks to the territory's analysts about the impact of the US economy on local performance.

On paper the Hong Kong economy is experiencing a period of growth but the feel good factor is still missing. Pauline Loong talks to the territory's analysts about the impact of the US economy on local performance.

Priceline.com, the company that gave the world the unforgiveable image of William Shatner singing Freebird in its US ads, announced a new and welcome pair of investors in February. Hutchison Whampoa and Cheung Kong, the twin arms of Li Ka-Shing's all-conquering empire, invested US$50 million in the US-based internet company famed for allowing its customers to name their own price for goods and services. This is not the first venture between Li and Jay Walker, the founder of priceline.com: Hutch already has a joint venture with the US company in Asia. The acquisition of 24 million shares at US$2.10 per share gives Hutchison a seat on the priceline.com board, to be assumed by Ian Wade, group managing director of Hutch's AS Watson group. Hutch has also increased its interest in Hutchison-Priceline, the Asian venture, to 65%.

A spate of recent mergers shows that India's financial sector is embracing M&A. That's good news, because the sector needs reform. The introduction of voluntary retirement schemes should smooth the way forward. By Saibal Dasgupta.

The 2000 year-end was a flurry of MBS activity in Australia. Investors hardly had time to develop their Christmas holiday snaps before National Australia Bank set a new benchmark for Australian originators with the launch of its global RMBS. Hard on its heels were three further term securitization issues each sporting an enticing new asset class. Mark B Johnson reviews the increasingly diverse world of Australian structured finance.

Australia's debt capital market is the most sophisticated in the region, and the potential is there for it to grow – but where is the supply going to come from? By Chris Wright

China is the latest country to want to launch a second board to supplement its main stock exchanges. It has a lot of advantages in doing so – particularly the huge potential size of its market. But success will depend on prudent regulation and education of investors. By Joy Lee

Mergers and acquisitions in e-business differ a little from their old economy counterparts. The youthful dot.coms are unlikely to experience the pain of company pride being roughly cast aside in the interests of the newly formed entity. There are also likely to be fewer employees to painstakingly placate and reprogramme. Then again, redundancies will always sour proceedings. Sohu.com, one of China's top three internet portals, is one such example. It merged with ChinaRen.com in October last year in a bid to broaden its capabilities – ChinaRen having built a strong reputation based on the popularity of its chatrooms. However, come December, Sohu announced its intention to cut its staff by 126 to 515. And analysts suggest further redundancies may be required if the company is to ensure its well being.

The formation of local asset management companies and a resolution trust company are two ideas put forward by Taiwan's bureau of monetary affairs to help deal with the country's mounting bad loans. Dominic Jones talks to two key executives in the bureau, Shiau Chang-Ruey, deputy director of community financing, and Philip Ong, director of foreign banks and international affairs, about what more needs to be done.

Anand Panyarachun earned his reputation as one of Thailand's most incorruptible prime ministers. Now he is using his formidable political and business clout to push for a more democratic and equitable society. By Ben Davies.

Technology may be the great enabler for the centralization of cash management operations, but the rapid pace of change in the e-environment means that few banks are willing or able to jump in feet first. And a joining of forces still seems out of the question. Joy Lee reports.

Asiamoney always likes to see the development of new asset classes but this one had us stumped: an Australian securitization backed by loans that fund eucalyptus trees. Mark B Johnson reports on this latest, rather eye-catching expansion of the market.