Asia Pacific
China: Onshore Bond Index Inclusion Marks Milestone in Financial Liberalisation
The recent announcement that Chinese government bonds (CGBs) and policy bank bonds will be included in the Bloomberg Barclay’s Global Aggregate (Global Agg) Index marks a huge milestone in China’s gradual integration into global markets. Not only does index inclusion herald the beginning of an influx of foreign investment, but it has the potential to mould credit markets across the region.
14 Feb 2019
China’s Real Estate: EM Analysts on Edge as Great Wall of Redemptions Approaches
With spreads on record volumes of bonds issued by China’s real estate developers widening to near 2009 levels and a softening of the Chinese economy taking hold, some analysts have raised alarm bells – even going so far as to question whether a bubble, which some allege to be brewing, or other big shock to the sector could catalyse the next financial crisis. There is, however, good reason to…
21 Jan 2019
Duet Group: “Frontier Countries Growing in Spite of Governments, Not Because of Them”
In an exclusive interview with Bonds & Loans, Joe Delvaux, Senior Fund Manager at Duet Asset Management, delves into frontier markets, assessing their performance in 2018, providing insight into investor sentiment on broader EM assets, and takes a glimpse into what 2019 might bring.
14 Jan 2019
FX Volatility Constrains Funding for Underleveraged Indonesian Banks
Despite a series of measures introduced by the Indonesian authorities, including six benchmark rate hikes in a year and improved hedging tools, the rupiah has continued to suffer from souring sentiment towards emerging markets. As a result, local banks and corporates are facing increasingly limited funding opportunities, even as Indonesia’s bond market expands at record pace following the…
11 Jan 2019
Brown Brothers Harriman: Emerging Markets Preview for the Week Ahead
EM FX ended the week on a firm note as stronger than expected US jobs data fed into risk-on sentiment. Fed Chair Powell also added to the positive sentiment Friday as he addressed basically every area of concern that the markets have had with the Fed. US rates backed up but not by enough to lend the dollar much support. In this current “wait and see” period regarding the US economy and the Fed,…
7 Jan 2019
Friends Without Benefits: Trade Wars Disrupt Old Ties and Breed New Alliances
The spate of trade tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump’s administration against China in 2018 were a natural manifestation of his anti-globalist agenda and represented one of the first steps towards his long-standing pledge to “Make America Great Again”. But the retrenchment of the US has forced its long-standing allies to rethink their bilateral relationships and search for new…
4 Jan 2019
Interest Rate Uncertainty, Market Volatility Keeping India’s Green Bond Issuers at Bay
With its substantial renewable energy ambitions telegraphed for years, industry practitioners often cite India as a potential major driver for the development of the sustainable finance and green bond segments among its emerging market peers. We speak with Vinod Kothari, a Kolkata-based structured finance advisor about why green bond volumes in India are down year-on-year, and the segments…
27 Dec 2018
Brown Brothers Harriman: Emerging Markets Preview for the Week Ahead
Global growth concerns are likely to keep EM on its back foot. China and the eurozone reported weak economic data Friday, and even a much stronger than expected US retail sales report was not enough to turn market sentiment.
17 Dec 2018
MUFG: System for Incentivising Investors Needed for Climate Bonds Uptake
Asia remains one of the leading regions for climate bond issuance in emerging markets globally, driven by both strong political will to transition towards a cleaner economy and, more fundamentally, a deep need for long-term infrastructure investment. We speak with Shyam Saraf, Director, DCM at MUFG, about how Asia’s climate bond sector is evolving to tackle the infrastructure gap.
13 Dec 2018
Green Sukuk: The Nexus of Islamic Finance and ESG
Despite its reputation as a heavy emitter of greenhouse gasses, Indonesia’s green sukuk was hailed as a game changer for both Islamic and ESG investing. Luky Alfirman, Director General of Budget Financing and Risk Management, Ministry of Finance in Indonesia believes its inaugural transaction in February is the first of many to come as the government looks to double down on its commitment to…
29 Nov 2018