Finance Asia

Asia's equity capital markets are having the weakest start to a year since 2003, with the region's debt markets picking up the slack.

We ask Samuel S Kim, Morgan Stanley’s head of Asia-Pacific M&A, for his outlook for the year. China will play a key role in fuelling the sector's strength, as will Japan's need to diversify beyond its borders.

A roundup of the latest syndicated loan market news.

Matthew Westerman and Dan Dees are to become co-heads of the investment banking division in Asia-Pacific ex-Japan.

Bangladesh has been growing consistently during the past decade, but the country has plenty of room for growth. A panel led by the central bank governor discuss the opportunities.

The independent committee looking into fraud allegations at Sino-Forest has reached the point of "diminishing returns" and has concluded its investigation.

The Korean brokerage firm confirms layoffs, but refers to the exercise as a realignment of its business rather than a reversal of its Asian strategy.

The tightly priced transaction is well received and is expected to encourage other financial sponsors to take profits as the Indian stock market recovers.

Hutch re-opens its 2017s and 2022s with a well-received $1 billion tap, taking money off the table while markets are hot.

Little more than two years after launching an ambitious expansion plan outside Korea, Samsung Securities told employees yesterday that it will refocus its attention on its home market.

The port builder cuts its Shanghai IPO to a quarter of its original size, just one day after China Oilfield Services scraps a planned $1.1 billion share placement.

New rules in the UK shed some fresh light on senior-level compensation in the banking industry, but do little to improve regulatory oversight.

Tarun Mahrotri's departure from J.P. Morgan leaves James Kenny in sole charge of global emerging markets, while Pranav Thakur takes over fixed income for emerging Asia.

PetroChina plans to buy a 20% stake in a Shell liquid natural gas property in Canada for more than $1 billion.

The zero coupon deal is priced with a 12% premium, but comes on the back of a share price rally that has pushed the stock to an 11-month high.

Sany Heavy Industry buys German concrete pump maker Putzmeister for more than €500 million.

The oil sands company aims to raise up to $600 million from the first major listing in Hong Kong this year.

Hong Kong property company Wharf Holdings attracts an order book in excess of $4.25 billion, while Cikarang Listrindo is set to test the high-yield market.

We are pleased to invite Japan’s leading financial institutions to submit for this year’s awards.

Amid depressed share prices, there is keen interest from companies looking to issue hybrids, says J.P. Morgan's Mark Follett.

Korea’s financial regulator decided on Friday that Hana Financial Group can proceed with its $3.48 billion purchase of Lone Star’s 51% stake in Korea Exchange Bank.

The bank's decision to scale back in investment banking has left some wondering why senior RBS executives, including the head of IB, are still getting paid bonuses.

Rights offerings could become a trend this year as depressed share prices make companies shy away from share placements.

How an Israeli hit squad that needs to finish off a job from the past is a lot like Greece.

Islamic Bank of Asia hires Harish Parameswar as head of investment banking and Saleh Al Nashwan as chief representative for its Bahrain representative office.