Singapore

Singapore Exchange (SGX) is bringing back the lunchtime trading break following a rejig of its equities market structure.

Something quite extraordinary has just been happening in Singapore. For the first time in several years, investors in the city-state have been able to punt on a local, multi-billion-dollar IPO, writes Philippe Espinasse in the latest Clawback.

Socially conscious investing in Asia has so far concentrated on green bonds and little else. But SRI financing is not just limited to green bonds. By taking a broader approach, Asian borrowers — including sovereigns — can reap serious benefits.

Asian green bonds are front and centre this week. Greenko Energy Holdings took the lead with its dollar bond on Monday, with Singapore’s DBS Group Holdings and Hong Kong’s Castle Peak Power Company rolling out their transactions on Tuesday.

A relatively stable credit backdrop has encouraged a swathe of Asian issuers to tap the bond market this week, ensuring a blistering pace of issuance.

DBS Group Holdings is readying Singapore’s first international green bond, mandating firms for its debut in the asset class.

First-time southeast Asian issuers Parkway Pantai and ABM Investama will meet investors next week ahead of US dollar bond sales. Yinson Holdings, meanwhile, is eyeing a $500m perpetual securities issue.

Singapore Exchange set a new record for its offshore RMB futures contract, a new RMB-denominated gold future kicks off trading in Hong Kong, and UBS Asset Management receives a fund management licence onshore.

Bright Food launched a three year euro bond in Asia on Tuesday, setting initial guidance at 140bp over mid-swaps. The Chinese food and drink producer had roadshowed for a three or five year issue in Asia and Europe last week.

An executive director in the loan syndicate and distribution team at Standard Chartered has left the bank, according to two sources.

NetLink Trust has priced Singapore’s largest listing in five years, raising S$2.3bn ($1.7bn) from a well covered book after global yield-focused investors piled in.

Standard Chartered’s Renminbi Globalisation Index fell to a 39-month low in May as the offshore renminbi (CNH) liquidity pool shrinks. But the bank said the index figures do not yet reflect China’s recent efforts to internationalise the renminbi, such the launch of Bond Connect.