Wholesale Banking | Asian Banking & Finance

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Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ freezes $2.6B Iranian assets
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 18 May 12 A Japanese bank frozen halted US$2.6 billion assets ofthe Iranian government after a U.S. Read ››

Eximbank takes control of Sacombank board
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 17 May 12 Eximbank will now control Sacombank's board of directors after investing about VND1.6 trillion or US$76.2 million in the said bank. Read ››

Hong Leong ups Q3 earnings by 49%
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 17 May 12 Hong Leong Financial Group increased its earning by a 49.2% increase in earnings to RM394.77mil in the third quarter ended March 31. Read ››

VietinBank bonds attract foreign investors
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 15 May 12 VietinBank became the first Vietnamese financial institution to successfully issue US$250 million worth of bonds in international markets at an annual real coupon of 8.25%. Read ››

Asiatrust sale to AUB gets central bank approval
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 13 May 12 Asia United Bank Corp. welcomed the Bangko Sentral Approval of its acquisition of Asiatrust Development Bank. Read ››

Depositors losing confidence at Nepal's finance companies
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 12 May 12 The deposits of Nepal's finance companies shrunk by over four percent in the first eight months of the current financial year. Read ››

Nepal's Global Bank eyes category A status with merger
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 12 May 12 Global Bank approved its merger plan with IME Financial Institution and Lord Buddha Finance in a special general meeting. Read ››

CIMB's ratings unchanged after BOC acquisition: RAM Ratings
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 11 May 12 CIMB Bank Bhd's proposed acquisition of a 60 per cent stake in Philippines-based Bank of Commerce has no immediate rating impact. Read ››

Banco de Oro takeover of Exportbank eyed by chairman
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 10 May 12 The chairman of the troubled Export and Industry Bank wants to sell all the banks assets and liabilities to Banco De Oro Unibank Inc. Read ››

Vietnam's Sacombank hunts for foreign investors
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 10 May 12 Sacombank may sell shares to foreign investors up to 15 percent of it chartered capital. Read ››

Shareholders approve HHB-SHB merger
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 10 May 12 The draft plan to merge Hanoi Building Commercial Bank into Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Bank has been approved by shareholders of both banks. Read ››

Foreign investors eye Indonesia’s banks
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 10 May 12 Indonesia’s banks are attracting foreign firms for its booming growth and an untapped market of tens of millions. Read ››

Bank Islam Malaysia looking to buy Indonesian banks
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 09 May 12 Bank Islam Malaysia is still keen on buying a stake in a Islamic financial institution in Indonesia although no decision has been made on potential Indonesian acquisitions. Read ››

Taiwan's Cathay Financial posts Q1 net profit of $67M
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 09 May 12 Cathay Financial reported a first-quarter net profit of NT$1.97 billion or US$67 million, and earnings per share of NT$0.19. Read ››

Petrovietnam Finance Corp. to be converted to a bank
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 05 May 12 Petrovietnam has approved the plan to change the operational model of Petrovietnam Finance Corp and convert it into a bank. Read ››

Malaysia's CIMB to expand in Australia
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 04 May 12 The CIMB Group will start business in Australia after acquiring majority of RBS's Australian business. Read ››

SME Bank to raise $963.5M in 3 years through sukuk
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 04 May 12 SME Bank plans to raise about RM3 billion or US 965.5 million over the next three years through a sukuk issuance. Read ››

Habubank shareholders okay merger with SHB
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 02 May 12 Habubank’s shareholders have approved the plan to merge with Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank. Read ››

Laos-Vietnam Bank to double chartered capital
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 01 May 12 The chartered capital of Laos-Vietnam Joint Venture Bank may be raised from $35 million to US$70 million in May 2012. Read ››

Nepal Bank gets govt approval to sell fixed assets
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 01 May 12 The government of Nepal has allowed Nepal Bank to sell fixed assets to replenish its capital. Read ››

NAB profits plunge 16%
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 01 May 12 The UK units of National Australia Bank Ltd have become a pox on the Australian bank’s operations. Read ››

Korea to attempt Woori sale for the 3rd time
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 29 Apr 12 The South Korean government is attempting for the third time to unload its holding Woori Finance Holdings. Read ››

Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp takes over Exportbank
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 28 Apr 12 The Export & Industry Bank has been placed under receivership of the PDIC by the Philippines' Monetary Board. Read ››

Most Aussie banking professionals want to change jobs
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 27 Apr 12 Australia’s banking and finance people seem a dissatisfied lot. Six of 10 Australian finance professionals intend to move to a new employer in 2012 said a recent survey by eFinancialCareers, a global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. Read ››

China’s third largest bank stumbles
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 27 Apr 12 The weaker Chinese economy has claimed Bank of China, Ltd as a victim. Read ››

11 Indian banks downgraded by S&P
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 26 Apr 12 It’s not welcome news for banks anytime. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has downgraded to negative from stable the outlook on its long-term counterparty credit ratings on 11 Indian banks and financial institutions. Read ››

China's banking system seems healthy
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 25 Apr 12 The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) reports on the state of China's banking industry in 2011. Read ››

Philippine banking association has new President
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 18 Apr 12 Alberto Villarosa, President and CEO of Security Bank Corporation, was recently elected President of the Bankers Association of the Philippines. Read ››

Citi makes $2.9B profit in Q1 with India, China stake sales
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 17 Apr 12 The sale of Citigroup stakes in India and China boosted the bank's revenue as it profited US$2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2012. Read ››

Malaysia's CIMB close to acquiring 60% stake in Philippines' BoC
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 17 Apr 12 CIMB's acquisition of a 60% stake in the Bank of Commerce is now awaiting the Philippine central bank's approval. Read ››

Malaysia's Affin again eyeing 51% of Indonesia's Bank INA Perdana
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 17 Apr 12 Affin Bank is still interested in acquiring at least 51 per cent or a majority stake in Indonesia's PT Bank Ina Perdana. Read ››

Janata Bank Nepal going public in May
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 09 Apr 12 Janata Bank Nepal Limited has completed preparations for initial public offering. Read ››

China lauded by IMF and WB for improved bank regulations
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 07 Apr 12 Chinese banks have made "significant improvements in risk measurement and risk management", according to experts of the IMF and World Bank. Read ››

Indonesia to question DBS on Danamon transaction
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 05 Apr 12 The Indonesian central bank is set to discuss with the DBS Group about its plan to buy 99 percent of Bank Danamon shares. Read ››

HSBC Singapore cuts over 100 jobs
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 03 Apr 12 HSBC cut over 100 jobs in Singapore representing just over 3 percent of its 3,000-strong workforce in the city-state. Read ››

Merger creates Japan's biggest trust bank
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 02 Apr 12 Three Japanese trust banks have been merged last Sunday to create the nation 's biggest trust bank. Read ››

BDO to raise $1B core capital through rights offer
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 02 Apr 12 BDO Unibank Inc would raise $1 billion addtional capital through a rights offer. Read ››

Kiatnakin Bank's merger with Phatra to be finalised by August
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 01 Apr 12 Kiatnakin Bank plans to complete its merger with Phatra Capital by August, with revenue from the integrated business to be recognised by the fourth quarter. Read ››

Vietnam bank merger deals expected to mushroom
	WHOLESALE BANKING \| 31 Mar 12 State Bank of Vietnam's efforts to speed up the bank restructuring process is expected to lure five to eight banks in mergers this year. Read ››

Bank BJB agrees to a higher dividend
WHOLESALE BANKING \| 27 Mar 12 The shareholders of Bank BJB approved the disbursement of a dividend at Rp 61.07 or 0.66 US cents a piece for the 2011 financial 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!