listing

Japan finds itself at an inflection point, with equities finally back up to 1990 levels, and inflation on the rise after decades of deflation. But impending policy decisions by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will test the market’s resilience.

Beijing’s new proposal to allow US-listed companies to use an external auditor eases tensions with Washington, while dual primary listings in Hong Kong provide better trading and liquidity conditions.

Chinese indices have delivered mixed results this year, with mainland bourses outperforming their offshore counterparts. As Beijing’s regulatory oversight tightens, there is little reason to believe that this trend will change.

Amid new challenges for Chinese companies planning to go public overseas, Hong Kong’s draw as a listing venue becomes more appealing, but any rush to raise money is unlikely to happen, just yet.

Amid the implementation of new trading rules and access to cheaper financing, increasing numbers of public companies in Hong Kong are choosing to delist or privatise even as bourse rules allow unprofitable companies to go public.

Last year saw the largest number of offshore listings by Chinese firms since 2010, but a new board in Shanghai may see Chinese tech firms opt to float domestically rather than in Hong Kong or New York.

China Merchants Bank, the country's sixth-biggest bank by assets, outlines plan for an A-share and H-share rights issue to boost its capital buffers after a period of unsustainable loan growth.

EIG-linked Gateway is seeking to double its NAV by raising fresh capital primarily from private banking clients and high-net-worth individuals and is set to become the first managed fund to list in Hong Kong.

Started by the likes of Rusal, IRC and L'Occitane last year, this trend is expected to gather pace in 2011 as suggested by the upcoming IPOs of Prada and Glencore.