Investment Banking

Profits of Japan’s top three banks in peril
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 18 May 12 Sales of extremely risky Japanese Government Bonds push profits of Japan’s three largest banks to a record high. Read ››

Bank lending in Japan rises for the seventh month
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 11 May 12 Bank lending grew again in April on the back of efforts to rebuild areas ravaged by the earthquake and tsunami of 2011. Read ››

BNI combines insurance with investment products
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 12 Apr 12 BNI is expecting to earn more from its bancassurance business with new deals from several insurance companies. Read ››

Asia prime services – A battle worth fighting?
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 04 Apr 12 Key dynamics at play within the Asian prime services landscape. Read ››

China loosens grip on foreign-funded banks
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 03 Apr 12 China takes another step towards opening its highly regulated banking system to the outside world. Read ››

BNP Paribas' Remington eyes development in Indonesia despite scarce resources
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 02 Apr 12 "The key will be to develop the breadth of coverage and distribution of the variety of products we offer in Indonesia," says Miles Remington, BNP Paribas' new head of equities for Indonesia. Read ››

Kenanga Investment Bank opens 6th southern Malaysian branch
INVESTMENT BANKING \| 17 Mar 12 Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd launched its new branch at Batu Pahat, Johor, making it the sixth branch in the southern region. Read ››

What to do with US$120 billion in Eurozone assets?
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 16 Mar 12 Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ponders what it needs from among US$120 billion in unwanted European assets on its doorstep. Read ››

Standard & Poor’s takes a dim view of Indian banks
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 14 Mar 12 All won’t be well with India’s banks until after next year at the earliest. Read ››

Morgan Stanley to do wholesale banking in Singapore
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 12 Mar 12 Morgan Stanley’s wholesale banking license allows it to expand its lucrative wealth management business and boost lending. Read ››

Vietnam acts to forestall banking crisis
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 05 Mar 12 A disconcerting jump in bad debts is forcing Vietnam to take measures to prop up the country’s banking industry. Read ››

Automating the investment funds landscape in Asia
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 02 Mar 12 Across Asia, investment fund transaction processing methods and distribution models differ markedly. Read ››

India not that worried about banks’ NPAs—yet
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 01 Mar 12 The central bank says the rising level of non-performing assets isn’t too scary at the present time. Read ››

BNI looks to boost Islamic banking business
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 29 Feb 12 The fourth largest bank in the world’s largest Muslim country wants to do more Islamic or “Shariah” banking. Read ››

M&As by Japanese banks and others rise to record heights
INVESTMENT BANKING \| 28 Feb 12 Yes, you can definitely blame it on the strong yen. Read ››

HSBC abandons retail banking operation in Japan
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 24 Feb 12 A massive restructuring by the world’s second largest bank continues to surprise with its depth. Read ››

BNP Paribas appoints Miles Remington as head of equities in Indonesia
INVESTMENT BANKING \| 22 Feb 12 Miles has been Global Head of Sales Trading, Head of Multi Product Client Solutions for the equity brokerage business of BNP Paribas. Read ››

BEA shows its appetite for dim sum bonds
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 21 Feb 12 Bank of East Asia Ltd, Hong Kong’s largest independent local bank and third largest bank, expects to issue up to one billion in dim sum bonds this year. Read ››

Indian banks join M&A hunt in Europe
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 20 Feb 12 Japan isn’t the only country looking to strike M&A fortunes in Europe. Read ››

ANZ cuts jobs to preserve bottom line
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 20 Feb 12 Despite a Q1 performance it described as “solid with good results,” ANZ will axe over 1,000 more jobs in anticipation of a worsening of the malaise affecting world banking. Read ››

Australia’s Westpac begins to bleed
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 17 Feb 12 One of Australia’s most stable banks is cut by the banking crisis. Read ››

SMFG leads Japan’s second wave of global M&As
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 15 Feb 12 The strong yen, a bane for Japanese exporters, is proving a gold mine for Japanese banks intent on mergers and acquisitions aboard, especially in Europe. Read ››

Vietnam to receive more U.S. Ex-Im Bank investments
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 13 Feb 12 Vietnam has been selected by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) as one of nine key emerging markets that will boost American exports and support job creation. Read ››

JGBs could imperil Japan by 2016
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 06 Feb 12 Mitsubishi UFJ Financial has identified 2016 as the year where things could go from bad to worse for Japan. Read ››

More Swiss banks turn to Singapore for confidentiality
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 04 Feb 12 More Swiss banks may be looking to Singapore as a favourable place for expansion. Read ››

Credit markets may have been too pessimistic
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 02 Feb 12 Beyond the noise generated by the European sovereign debt crisis and the seemingly unending debate about reducing the U.S. Read ››

Japan’s second largest lender posts jaw dropping loss
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 02 Feb 12 Mizuho Financial Group took an 80% drop in profit during 4Q11 on a tax asset write-down and weaker stock markets. Read ››

HSBC continues retail banking restructuring
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 27 Jan 12 The banking giant sells off four units in just two days. Read ››

European banks slow down lending in ominous omen
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 24 Jan 12 European banks have begun lending less to Hong Kong in December, fueling fears the Eurozone contagion could be worsening. Read ››

Bankers beware: World economy faces catastrophic 2012
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 19 Jan 12 Europe stands poised to drag the world into another recession. Read ››

Desperation begins to set in as banks continue dumping loan assets
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 13 Jan 12 The mighty continue to fall victim to the ever-worsening fund drought. Read ››

Funding pressures to hammer banks in 2012
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 12 Jan 12 The ongoing financial crisis in Europe will raise regulatory pressure on capital and liquidity for banks and insurers this year. Read ››

Taiwan's Cathay Fin buys stake in Taishin from Newbridge
INVESTMENT BANKING \| 05 Jan 12 Cathay Financial has bought a 3.45 percent stake in Taishin Financial for T$4.7 billion or $155 million from private equity fund Newbridge Capital. Read ››

Temasek Holdings kicks off North Asia fund
INVESTMENT BANKING \| 04 Jan 12 Singapore’s investment company has been increasing its investments in China over the years. Read ››

Japanese banks on M&A binge in Europe
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 04 Jan 12 The strong yen is making Europe a profitable hunting ground for leading Japanese banks bent on mergers & acquisitions. Read ››

KEB becomes 1st S. Korean underwriter in Hong Kong
INVESTMENT BANKING \| 01 Jan 12 Korea Exchange Bank has been issued a license by the Hong Kong authorities to act as an underwriter for securities. Read ››

Standard Chartered: nine straight years of profitability
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 01 Jan 12 A continuing focus on the rest of the world again pays off big for Standard Chartered plc. Read ››

Standard Chartered to increase financing for Indian companies
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 14 Dec 11 According to Bloomberg, StanChart ranks third in Indian mergers advisory this year. Read ››

Nomura Holdings slashes EU assets by 83%
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 29 Nov 11 The debt crisis caused Japan’s largest brokerage to reduce its assets in Italy. Read ››

RCBC loans Globe Telecom a whopping $114m
	INVESTMENT BANKING \| 28 Nov 11 The seven-year loan is the telecom's second borrowing this year. Read ››

PRINT EDITION HIGHLIGHTS

India’s banks struggle as economy softens

Brother, can you spare a Rupee?

What are the interesting IT trends among Asian banks?

Challenging times and stiffer regulatory requirements are forcing banks to explore latest technologies that would help them lower operational costs while seeking new revenue streams.

FATCA: Blessing or burden to Asia?

As the US pushes for stricter regulations to avoid tax evasion, Asian banks are forced to follow implementation and remediation requirements by 2015. Question is, are they ready? Roxanne Uy investigates.

IT providers to reap benefits of banking liberalisation in Asia

Burgeoning of Asian banks leads to increase in IT spend. Krisana Gallezo reports.

Business bankers are confident of Asian growth even as Europe threatens

As European banks start to deleverage and restrict lending to Asia amid the sovereign debt crisis, fears of a credit crunch abound - but are these worries overdone? Find out as Roxanne Uy reports.

RMB set to beat USD as the main currency for cross-border trade

The internationalisation of RMB is providing banks with opportunities to enhance their cash management structures in the face of a USD liquidity shortage — but does a shortage really exist until now? Find out as Roxanne Uy investigates.

Bankers probe for more efficient custody & clearing platforms

Asian banks are challenged to have a system that embeds sufficient functionality into their end-to-end infrastructure. How are they faring so far? Roxanne Uy reports.

ATM makers hope to squeeze cash out of system

New software even promises better truck delivery routes.

SG banks step in where US banks fear to tread

Why retail lending origination excellence is important in Asia

Lend me that money!