Asia is (Cautiously) Getting Back to Business
Governments and the private sector are working together in Asia and the Pacific to chart a path toward re-opening businesses during the midst of the pandemic.
Why are Interest Rates Falling in Southeast Asia?
Southeast Asian economies are starting to feel the pinch of trade tensions, recession fears and other global trends.
Reversing the Structural Regression in Malaysia Manufacturing
If Malaysia truly wants to reach high-income countries, it must first arrest and then reverse its structural regression, and improve the business environment to revive private investment in manufacturing.
East Asian Bond Markets Entering Choppy Waters
After years of smooth sailing through calm market conditions, bond markets in East Asia are navigating through stormier weather. ADB data released this week shows that weaker growth in the US and the PRC has weighed down overall regional growth.
Green Bonds: Financing Renewable Energy in Asia
Asia’s share of world energy consumption is rapidly growing, and meeting this demand in a sustainable way requires a shift in investment away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources.
Has Asia's Debt Risen Too Quickly?
Debt has ballooned in developing Asia following the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, supported by plentiful global liquidity. With the US Federal Reserve about to raise interest rates, data from the Asian Development Outlook 2015 gives a clearer picture about the possibility of a credit slowdown in the region.
Five Bond Market Trends to Watch Out for in 2015
As 2015 gathers pace, the world seems to be entering a more uncertain and unpredictable phase. With the end of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve, we are entering an era of tighter global liquidity.
PRC's Dim Sum Bonds Need to Develop a New Flavor
The offshore renminbi bond market has boomed since the People’s Republic of China (PRC) authorities first allowed domestic banks to issue them in Hong Kong, China in June 2007. But appetite for the paper—popularly known as “dim sum bonds”—is starting to wane as access to onshore markets becomes easier. To stay relevant, the dim sum market must develop further.
Is Asia Ready for Social Impact Bonds?
Raising finance for projects which are socially important but have little appeal to hard-nosed investors has been a major challenge for governments and donor agencies in the past. But now a new instrument has been developed which offers a fresh way forward—Social Impact Bonds.
Banking Integration in ASEAN Gathers Pace
The ASEAN Economic Community, planned to come into effect in 2015, is expected to liberalize goods, capital and skilled labor flows in the ASEAN region. While there has been considerable progress in the area of trade integration, financial integration still lags behind. The ASEAN Banking Integration Framework, which aims to liberalize the banking market by 2020, could help pave the way for further integration and the entry of ASEAN banks into regional banking markets.