Asia Risk/News
Taiwanese banks exposed to domestic property and China risks, says Fitch
Fitch Ratings believes the cost of funding for Taiwanese banks could jump nearly 200 basis points should Taiwan or China property prices fall sharply. The country's banks are also prone to any slowdown in global economic growth.
FSB concerned about counterparty and liquidity risk in ETF market
FSB warns of counterparty risk due to rapid growth of synthetic ETF market; also expresses concern about on-demand liquidity in stressed conditions, particularly linked with vertically integrated providers.
Nomura names Adair and Dolan to replace Bouzouba as heads of equities for Asia
Nomura has named John Adair and Paul Dolan as co-head of equities for Asia to replace Rachid Bouzouba, who has left the Japanese securities dealer.
HKMA warns on US dollar funding risk from China corporate lending
Hong Kong branches of Chinese commercial banks are increasingly lending US dollars to state-backed enterprises. The surge in dollar demand from Chinese corporates comes as lending is squeezed onshore by Beijing's efforts to limit the credit growth of…
Video: Tsuyoshi Oyama on the conflicted role of central banks post crisis
Bank of Japan veteran and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu partner, Tsuyoshi Oyama, discusses the changed role of central banks post-global financial crisis and potential conflicts with their new role.
Capital gains tax provisions on QFII stalk China A-share ETFs
Fund managers active in offshore-listed China A-share ETFs say a 10% provision set aside for capital gains tax on A-share trading related to P-note issues is increasing tracking error for some funds. Meanwhile, others are ignoring the tax risk altogether…
HK Lehman minibond resolution may be approved despite bond-holder dissent
Despite objections submitted to the US bankruptcy court from the holders of Lehman Brothers minibonds, the latest resolution effort to reach settlement on the sale of credit-linked notes to retail investors in Hong Kong may still be approved, as the 75%…
Singapore efforts to become RMB offshore centre bolstered by bond funds
Barclays Capital and UOB Asset Management issue the first renminbi-denominated bond funds in Singapore for retail investors. RBS believes Singapore has the potential to be the second major offshore renminbi centre after Hong Kong
RBS appoints Sherry Liu as China CEO
RBS names Sherry Liu as China chairman and chief executive officer, in a bid to bolster its business in the country.
Transitions in Asia still reliant on sovereigns
Soft-soaping the non-sovereigns
People
On the move
Onshore forex options debut in China
Foreign exchange options debuted in mainland China today with a number of deals taking place. China now has an onshore market for forex forwards, forex options, forex swaps and cross-currency swap, offering market participants more hedging tools as the…
Air China CFO wants simpler fuel hedges; other airlines remain unhedged
Air China will seek simpler hedging strategies when its current contracts expire. Meanwhile, other airlines in Asia are taking differing approaches to hedging, with some risking big profit losses by staying completely unhedged.
MAS appoints Menon as new managing director
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has named Ravi Menon as its new managing director. He replaces Heng Swee Keat who is leaving administrative service.
Prop traders switching to Hong Kong hedge funds boost industry
Proprietary traders moving from banks to Hong Kong hedge funds has helped the industry turn a corner, say hedge fund market participants, and an SFC hedge fund report indicates the industry is bouncing back in Asia.
HKMA’s Yuen urges banks to take action now on Basel III LCR; warns of negative impact for corporate debt markets
Banks should begin preparing in earnest to meet the Basel III liquidity requirements as regulators begin the process of supervising banks’ compliance with the new rules, according to the deputy chief executive of the HKMA.
Morgan Stanley names Christianson and Strong co-CEOs Asia-Pacific
Morgan Stanley has named Wei Sun Christianson and William Strong as co-heads of Asia to replace outgoing Owen Thomas.
Yen interbank funding market calm as government bond yields retrace
The reduced scale of hedge fund carry trade activities compared with previous crises such as the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 has reined in potential increases in the yen libor rate and short-end JGBs.
HSBC names Conxicoeur global head of insurance at asset management arm
HSBC Global Asset Management has named Patrice Conxicoeur as global head of insurance coverage, and Julie Koo as head of institutional business Asia-Pacific. The moves come as part of a wider reorganisation of the unit.
Prudential’s Thiam sees Asian infrastructure deals as ALM panacea; 340,000 Asia sales force 'completely insufficient'
Increasing numbers of infrastructure deals in Asian markets may help insurers meet their long-term liabilities, according to Prudential’s group chief executive.
China and HK central banks close to finalising new CNH clearing arrangement
Market participants are close to completing the legal and operational details relating to a new custodian account arrangement that would allow the city's participating banks in offshore renminbi to take credit risk against the People's Bank of China…
Video: BlackRock's Deborah Fuhr on ETF development in Asia
Retail and institutional investors have increasingly embraced exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Asia as a component of their asset allocation strategies
Diggle to re-launch Asia long volatility fund under new vehicle; inflation hedging another target
Stephen Diggle, co-founder of defunct Singapore hedge fund Artradis, which closed after incurring losses of $700 million, will re-launch an Asian long volatility fund under his new vehicle Vulpes Investment Management in May.