https://www.scmp.com/rss/326396/feed Latest news, analysis and commentary about the sale of fixed-income financial products to finance environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects and business activities. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu UK lender Barclays plans to continue growing its investment bank in Hong Kong, using the city as a platform to capture the growing fundraising needs in Asia and the rising opportunities from the internationalisation of the yuan, according to its global CEO. “Asia and Hong Kong are very important areas for us,” said C.S. Venkatakrishnan, global CEO of Barclays, in an interview with the South China Morning Post during a recent visit to the city. “In Hong Kong, our investment banking team is... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349118/barclays-boosts-hong-kong-presence-tap-thriving-ipo-market-global-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349118/barclays-boosts-hong-kong-presence-tap-thriving-ipo-market-global-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Andy Xie Andy Xie The Iran war’s oil shock has dramatically increased the security risk for oil-dependent countries, incentivising a turn towards renewable energy. This impact will outlast the war and oil price spikes because the world knows this war will recur. China will be the biggest beneficiary and its exports are likely to do very well this year, offsetting losses from buying higher-priced oil. A fifth of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas plus a third of seaborne fertilisers traditionally... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347634/oil-shocked-world-turns-renewables-china-will-reap-rewards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Green bonds are key to climate finance. Hong Kong companies have been somewhat slow to take up environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). The MTR Corporation, Hong Kong’s citywide rail operator, is something of a pioneer. It first set up a green bond framework about a decade ago to determine how best to issue such bonds and use the proceeds to invest in sustainable projects and facilities. Since then, it has periodically issued green bonds, usually in the local currency. However, its... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342054/mtrs-embrace-green-bonds-example-other-hong-kong-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342054/mtrs-embrace-green-bonds-example-other-hong-kong-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong is expected to see a rise in bond issuance across multiple currencies in 2026, driven by rising demand for non-US dollar assets amid geopolitical tensions and government initiatives to strengthen the city’s capital markets, according to industry players. As part of efforts to promote the local bond market, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) launched a blueprint in September to expand yuan-linked products and widen the investor base... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3337865/hong-kong-bond-markets-yuan-issuance-expand-2026-under-hkma-sfc-road-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3337865/hong-kong-bond-markets-yuan-issuance-expand-2026-under-hkma-sfc-road-map?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:30:11 +0000 John Haffner,Jenny Lee,Lisa Sachs John Haffner,Jenny Lee,Lisa Sachs For decades, New York and London have defined the flow of global capital. But while markets still chase short-term returns in US equities, the next great wave of productive investment is taking shape in East Asia, led by China’s financing, manufacturing and export of the clean technologies that are remaking the global economy. That contrast has only widened. As the United States retreats from climate leadership, China has doubled down. A day after US President Donald Trump called climate change... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334872/how-hong-kong-can-distinguish-itself-climate-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334872/how-hong-kong-can-distinguish-itself-climate-finance-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Ma Jun,Sean Kidney Ma Jun,Sean Kidney As the United States renounces its climate commitments, a chain reaction of wavering pledges and scaled-back investments by other donors and multilateral institutions has followed. This trend raises the stakes for everyone else, underscoring the urgency of closing the financing gap for climate adaptation and mitigation in the developing world. Fortunately, China has increasingly been projecting itself as a source of alternative, low-cost funding for climate and sustainability projects across the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334996/how-yuan-internationalisation-helping-close-climate-finance-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3334996/how-yuan-internationalisation-helping-close-climate-finance-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:30:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Nowadays, it seems everything is tokenised. The latest? Hong Kong has issued a record HK$10 billion (US$1.3 billion) tokenised green bond, the world’s largest digitalised bond offering of its kind. With the completion of the pricing of the bond, investor demand has been strong. The offering attracted HK$130 billion in bidding from mostly professional and institutional investors. It shows Hong Kong can sell new financial products that generate tremendous investor interest. A big attraction is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332819/hong-kong-breaks-new-fintech-ground-tokenised-green-bond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332819/hong-kong-breaks-new-fintech-ground-tokenised-green-bond?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 22:45:15 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Hong Kong is marketing a new set of “digitally native” bonds denominated in multiple currencies, intensifying the city’s drive to become a global hub for digital assets. The government was looking to sell digital green bonds denominated in US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, euros and offshore yuan, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal could be priced as early as Monday, said the people, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. If successfully priced, it would mark... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3332197/hong-kong-extends-digital-bond-ambitions-third-offering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3332197/hong-kong-extends-digital-bond-ambitions-third-offering?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:04:43 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Challenges from commercial property credit quality will persist for Hong Kong banks next year, though these may be balanced by prospects in capital markets and yuan business, according to the head of the city’s de facto central bank. “The Hong Kong Monetary Authority will continue to monitor the credit quality of the property sector, which will continue to be a challenge for the banking sector next year,” said chief executive Eddie Yue Wai-man in an exclusive interview. However, there was no... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3330408/property-credit-quality-issues-manageable-hong-kong-banks-hkmas-eddie-yue-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3330408/property-credit-quality-issues-manageable-hong-kong-banks-hkmas-eddie-yue-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:20:05 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The Hong Kong Green Building Council recently started issuing international certificates for buildings overseas, which is expected to enable more international developers to secure local funding for sustainable projects, boosting the city’s role as a regional green finance hub. A non-profit-making body focused on promoting the development of eco-friendly structures, the council has extended its Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Plus certification programme to foreign markets. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327913/hong-kong-strengthens-green-finance-hub-role-new-global-building-certificates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3327913/hong-kong-strengthens-green-finance-hub-role-new-global-building-certificates?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 23:30:09 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong is boosting financial ties with the Middle East by signing initial accords with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to enable mutual recognition of funds and cross-listings of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Hong Kong’s market regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to facilitate the mutual recognition of funds. This would allow public... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3325954/hong-kong-and-uae-strengthen-financial-ties-etf-and-fund-accords?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3325954/hong-kong-and-uae-strengthen-financial-ties-etf-and-fund-accords?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong can play a role in helping the UN achieve its sustainability and humanitarian goals through green financing, the head of innovative finance at its refugee agency has said. Siddhartha Sinha also said that developing “good partnerships” would help Hong Kong as it looked to tap into Islamic financing, citing the agency’s own experience. Sinha was speaking to the Post on the sidelines of the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Global Conference in Hong Kong on Wednesday. AVPN pitches... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325212/very-valuable-role-hong-kong-helping-un-body-reach-green-finance-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325212/very-valuable-role-hong-kong-helping-un-body-reach-green-finance-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:28:26 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang Hong Kong is poised to gain from mainland China’s expanding Belt and Road Initiative, as new projects under the effort to build a China-centred economic network increasingly focus on green development, digital transformation and trade-corridor connectivity, according to HSBC. Hong Kong, with its strengths in green finance and status as the world’s largest offshore yuan hub, was set to play a bigger role as the 12‑year‑old belt and road plan shifted towards more private sector-led projects across... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3324330/chinas-ramp-belt-and-road-investments-plays-hong-kongs-strengths-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3324330/chinas-ramp-belt-and-road-investments-plays-hong-kongs-strengths-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:30:27 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang The sustainable debt market in Hong Kong recorded solid growth in the first half of the year, with estimated issuances rising 15 per cent to US$34.3 billion from a year earlier, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said on Wednesday as the city prepared to host the second annual Green Week event. Kenneth Hui, the authority’s executive director (external), said he hoped the momentum would extend to the second half, noting strong demand from international investors, particularly in Europe and... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3324186/hong-kongs-sustainable-debt-market-grows-15-city-prepares-host-green-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3324186/hong-kongs-sustainable-debt-market-grows-15-city-prepares-host-green-week?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:45:10 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong was responsible for nearly half of the green bonds issued in Asia in 2024 and saw a surge in sustainability-related funds, as strong demand from regional mainland governments and start-ups raised the city’s stature as a finance hub for climate-friendly projects, according to a minister. Green bond issuance in Hong Kong last year reached US$43 billion, representing 45 per cent of the region’s total and keeping the city atop the league table in Asia for the seventh consecutive year, said... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323896/hong-kongs-crop-green-bonds-esg-funds-flourishes-under-mainland-chinas-climate-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3323896/hong-kongs-crop-green-bonds-esg-funds-flourishes-under-mainland-chinas-climate-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:00:07 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s deficit rose by almost 25 per cent in one month to HK$115.9 billion (US$14.9 billion) by the end of July, according to the results for the 2025-26 financial year released on Friday. The figure, representing results for the first four months of 2025-26, compares with a deficit of HK$93.9 billion at the end of June. But a government source sought to ease concerns over the deficit, saying most of the revenue from salaries and profits taxes would be received in the latter half of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3323714/hong-kongs-deficit-rises-hk1159-billion-25-one-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3323714/hong-kongs-deficit-rises-hk1159-billion-25-one-month?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:47:20 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong is poised to play an invaluable role in sustainable development by capitalising on its strengths in green finance given mainland China’s status as a leader in advanced green technologies, a top American economist has said. Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor and director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, also said on Thursday that the Greater Bay Area was superior to Silicon Valley. Beijing should also speed up the internationalisation of the renminbi,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319502/hong-kong-urged-make-itself-truly-worlds-green-financial-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319502/hong-kong-urged-make-itself-truly-worlds-green-financial-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:18:09 +0000 Harvey Rouse Harvey Rouse Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Last year marked the hottest on record, and extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more severe. Just last month, scientists warned that we have only three years left to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels as set by the Paris Agreement. This target has long been the pillar of climate efforts worldwide. Our planet is not waiting for us. The European Union and Hong Kong share this conviction:... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317171/hong-kong-and-eu-are-natural-partners-2050-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3317171/hong-kong-and-eu-are-natural-partners-2050-carbon-neutral-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The Hong Kong government sold HK$27 billion (US$3.44 billion) in multicurrency green and infrastructure bonds to support the development of the Northern Metropolis, boosting the city’s reputation as a sustainable finance hub. The notes, denominated in Hong Kong dollars, yuan, US dollars and euros, drew strong demand from investors globally amid an uncertain interest rate environment. The sale attracted orders totalling nearly HK$237 billion, translating into subscription ratios of between 3.3... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3313123/hong-kongs-huge-multicurrency-bond-deal-oversubscribed-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3313123/hong-kongs-huge-multicurrency-bond-deal-oversubscribed-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:51:54 +0000 China recently issued its first sovereign green bonds on the London Stock Exchange, a landmark moment that projected Beijing as a leader in sustainable finance. The move was welcomed: it promised to channel international capital into China’s vast green economy and could deepen climate cooperation with Britain and the European Union. But China also continues to approve new coal power plants and last year launched construction on 94.5 gigawatts of capacity, the most since 2015. Therein lies a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3307482/china-must-resist-greenwashing-its-dirty-coal-habit-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3307482/china-must-resist-greenwashing-its-dirty-coal-habit-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Apr 2025 01:30:08 +0000 China’s finance ministry has announced the impending issuance of sovereign green bonds in London, which will mark its first overseas sale of such bonds and a concrete step following high-level economic and finance talks earlier this year. The yuan-denominated issuance will be worth up to 6 billion yuan (US$829.75 million) with specific details to be disclosed later, the ministry said on Wednesday, in a step seen as reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development while promoting the yuan’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3303154/chinas-finance-ministry-issue-sovereign-green-bonds-london?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3303154/chinas-finance-ministry-issue-sovereign-green-bonds-london?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Mar 2025 08:28:21 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau As Hong Kong grapples with a deficit projected to reach just under HK$100 billion (US$12.9 billion) for the 2024-25 financial year, many experts have called for the government to bolster the city’s dwindling reserves by issuing more bonds to fund infrastructure investment. They believe this could foster the growth of the financial services sector and boost capital flows. Last Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po weighed in on the debate, saying the government could issue bonds to fund... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3299978/how-big-hong-kongs-debt-post-unpacks-citys-bond-financing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3299978/how-big-hong-kongs-debt-post-unpacks-citys-bond-financing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:00:23 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang China International Capital Corporation (CICC) has received a licence to operate in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), adding to the presence of Chinese firms in the United Arab Emirates as cross-border activities continue to expand. The investment bank will join China’s five largest banks that have set up bases in the special economic zone. This expands the range of financial services available to support cross-border activities, including trade and sustainable finance, according... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3294971/chinese-investment-bank-cicc-cleared-operate-dubai-financial-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3294971/chinese-investment-bank-cicc-cleared-operate-dubai-financial-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jan 2025 04:20:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Citigroup and Bank of America (BofA) said they are leaving a global climate-banking group, becoming the latest Wall Street lenders to exit the coalition in the past month. In a statement, Citigroup said while it remains committed to achieving net zero emissions, it’s exiting the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). Bank of America said separately on Tuesday that it was also leaving NZBA, adding that it will continue to work with clients on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The banks’ departure... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3292998/citigroup-bofa-join-wall-street-lenders-leaving-global-climate-banking-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3292998/citigroup-bofa-join-wall-street-lenders-leaving-global-climate-banking-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 04:06:13 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Bond issuance in Macau reached an all-time high in 2024 amid the government’s effort to diversify its economy from its core casino business and Beijing’s bid to broaden the yuan’s international appeal, according to analysts. A total of US$28.1 billion of bonds were listed on the Chongwa (Macao) Financial Asset Exchange, the local bourse in the former Portuguese colony, according to Bloomberg data. The value of bond issuance was 46 times more than the nearly US$600 million recorded in 2018 when... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3292744/bond-listings-macau-hit-record-us28-billion-similar-trend-seen-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3292744/bond-listings-macau-hit-record-us28-billion-similar-trend-seen-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:30:11 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu French banking giant Credit Agricole CIB is committed to using Hong Kong as a base to expand its business in Asia, and those plans will not be affected by Donald Trump’s plan to wage a trade war with China, according to its CEO. “Internationalisation of the yuan, green finance and infrastructure development are the three major themes of development in Hong Kong, which can offer huge opportunities for Credit Agricole CIB as we have strong capability in these areas,” Xavier Musca said in an... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3288661/credit-agricole-bolsters-asia-expansion-hong-kong-undeterred-trumps-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3288661/credit-agricole-bolsters-asia-expansion-hong-kong-undeterred-trumps-trade-war?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:30:10 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s latest offering of HK$20 billion (US$2.7 billion) infrastructure bonds got off to a strong start, as HSBC and other co-arrangers reported keen demand when the government started taking orders from retail investors on Tuesday. The three-year bonds, which will remain open for public subscription until 2pm local time on December 6, are appealing as they offer a minimum annual yield of 3.5 per cent, analysts said. The government may increase the offering size to HK$25 billion to meet any... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3288237/hong-kongs-us27-billion-infrastructure-bonds-attract-keen-demand-retail-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3288237/hong-kongs-us27-billion-infrastructure-bonds-attract-keen-demand-retail-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Nov 2024 11:33:59 +0000 As Azerbaijan’s capital Baku prepares to host the Cop29 climate conference from November 11, Asia stands at a crossroads in the global fight against climate change. The region, home to 60 per cent of the world’s population and 53 per cent of global emissions, is emerging as an unlikely champion in the race to net zero. While challenges remain formidable and estimates suggest meeting its goals by 2050 will cost about US$70 trillion, Asia’s commitment to climate action is reshaping the global... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3284444/asia-emerging-unlikely-champion-race-net-zero?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3284444/asia-emerging-unlikely-champion-race-net-zero?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Nov 2024 12:30:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) will work with authorities on the mainland to develop the Greater Bay Area and expand cross-border trading schemes to strengthen the city’s status as an international financial centre, according to the HKMA’s CEO. Eddie Yue Wai-man, who will start his second five-year term as the city’s de facto central banker on Tuesday, said development of the Greater Bay Area has been slower than expected. Beijing rolled out its blueprint for the Greater Bay Area... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3280158/hkma-chief-looks-greater-bay-area-connect-schemes-second-five-year-term?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3280158/hkma-chief-looks-greater-bay-area-connect-schemes-second-five-year-term?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:30:09 +0000 Hong Kong’s finance chief has hailed a coming government issue of HK$50 billion worth of bonds to fund infrastructure projects as a “win-win investment” while throwing his support behind similar moves by public bodies to raise money. In a weekly blog post on Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said the planned issue of Silver Bonds – for investors aged 60 and above – would offer attractive returns, including an annual interest rate of at least 4 per cent. Chan noted the three-year... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3278600/hong-kongs-hk50-billion-silver-bonds-issue-win-win-investment-says-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3278600/hong-kongs-hk50-billion-silver-bonds-issue-win-win-investment-says-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Sep 2024 09:31:30 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The government of Guangdong province and rail operator MTR Corp have completed yuan-denominated bond offerings in Hong Kong, adding to a record wave of such issuances in the city this year. The 5 billion yuan (US$703 million) offering by the southern Chinese province, comprising 2 billion yuan in two-year bonds, 1.5 billion yuan in three-year bonds and 1.5 billion yuan in five-year bonds, attracted 57.18 billion yuan in bids from investors, making it 11.4 times oversubscribed, Bank of China... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3278104/investors-eat-dim-sum-bonds-guangdong-province-hong-kongs-mtr?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3278104/investors-eat-dim-sum-bonds-guangdong-province-hong-kongs-mtr?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Sep 2024 10:00:19 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Sustainable investment in mainland China is set to expand over the next few years, and Hong Kong has a key role to play to support the trend by leveraging its regional financial hub status, according to a research report. Some 30 per cent of mainland-based companies aim to increase their outlays in sustainable projects in the next three years, while 69 per cent plan to maintain their current level of commitments, according to a joint report by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3277353/sustainability-chinese-firms-set-growth-plans-talent-costs-dominate-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3277353/sustainability-chinese-firms-set-growth-plans-talent-costs-dominate-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Sep 2024 11:15:09 +0000 The Chinese government rolled out a set of guidelines on Tuesday to support its biggest economic zone as the area pursues its green transition and turns to “higher-quality” growth – priorities shared by the country at large – via multilevel capital markets. Eligible companies in the sprawling Yangtze River Economic Belt – an area with 21 per cent of China’s surface area but 44 per cent of its gross domestic product – will be encouraged to raise capital via green bonds and equity, according to a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3276125/chinas-central-bank-ministries-pledge-green-finance-support-dense-economic-zone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3276125/chinas-central-bank-ministries-pledge-green-finance-support-dense-economic-zone?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Aug 2024 12:45:09 +0000 There are few international financial centres situated so close to nature as Hong Kong. On a good day I can reach the beach within 20 minutes from my desk; in under an hour, I can stand among the birds and frogs of the Yuen Long wetlands. The Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, host to more than 60 species of coral, is only 20km or so away from Mong Kok, one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods on the planet. So it is entirely appropriate that Hong Kong, long a hub of global capital, has become a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3274456/how-hong-kong-can-be-climate-change-superconnector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3274456/how-hong-kong-can-be-climate-change-superconnector?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Aug 2024 08:30:08 +0000 When sailing in rough seas, you need a steady pair of hands. That is why it is good news that Eddie Yue Wai-man has been reappointed for a second five-year term as head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Yue has amply proved himself over the past five difficult years. During this time, Hong Kong had to face social unrest, a pandemic and a prolonged economic downturn. It has been caught up in the increasingly bitter rivalry between China and the West, especially the United States.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3273034/steady-hand-rough-hong-kong-monetary-waters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3273034/steady-hand-rough-hong-kong-monetary-waters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Aug 2024 22:30:11 +0000 Jiaxing Li,Aileen Chuang Jiaxing Li,Aileen Chuang China’s southern province Guangdong is looking to issue up to 7.5 billion yuan (US$1.03 billion) of offshore yuan-denominated bonds in Hong Kong, in a move that underscores China’s renewed push to internationalise its currency and strengthen the city’s role as an offshore yuan hub. The provincial Department of Finance is hiring bookrunners to issue bonds worth up to 5 billion yuan in Hong Kong and 2.5 billion yuan in Macau, according to a notice on Monday. The maturity of the bonds will be no... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3272460/guangdong-join-dim-sum-bond-feast-us1-billion-sale-hong-kong-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3272460/guangdong-join-dim-sum-bond-feast-us1-billion-sale-hong-kong-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jul 2024 08:00:20 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The Shenzhen government will issue up to 7 billion yuan (US$964.4 million) worth of so-called dim sum bonds – yuan-­denominated offshore bonds – in Hong Kong, according to a statement on Monday. The offering, the fourth such issuance in the last four years, is also the largest, bringing the total funds raised by the Shenzhen government in Hong Kong to 22 billion yuan, after offerings in 2021, 2022 and 2023 raised 5 billion yuan each. For the first time, the bond offering will include a tranche... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3272367/shenzhen-government-raise-us964-million-dim-sum-bond-issue-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3272367/shenzhen-government-raise-us964-million-dim-sum-bond-issue-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2024 13:25:46 +0000 Jiaxing Li Jiaxing Li Hong Kong’s government raised US$3.2 billion via green bonds denominated in US dollars, euros and offshore yuan in the city’s latest push to establish itself as a sustainable finance hub and to promote the internationalisation of the Chinese currency. The deal consisted of a US$1 billion three-year dollar bond, a seven-year €750 million (US$819.75 million) bond, and a 10 billion yuan (US$1.38 billion) bond with maturities of two, five, 10, 20 and 30 years, according to the Hong Kong Monetary... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3270994/hong-kong-government-raises-us32-billion-multicurrency-green-bond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3270994/hong-kong-government-raises-us32-billion-multicurrency-green-bond?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:45:34 +0000 Hong Kong’s government unveiled plans for a multi-tranche sale of green bonds in dollar, euro and offshore yuan currencies and hired banks to organise investor meetings beginning on Tuesday. The bonds, which are expected to be rated AA+ by S&P Global and AA- by Fitch Ratings, are to be issued under the government’s HK$500 billion (US$64 billion) global medium-term note programme. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced in his budget speech in February that the government would issue HK$120... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3270626/hong-kong-hires-banks-sale-green-bonds-raise-dollar-euro-offshore-yuan-funds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3270626/hong-kong-hires-banks-sale-green-bonds-raise-dollar-euro-offshore-yuan-funds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jul 2024 07:16:31 +0000 Financiers are finally starting to recognise the significance of biodiversity and ecosystems, acknowledging nature’s profound importance to financial investments and economies. This relatively recent realisation is driven by the global surge in attention to environmental sustainability and climate change. Investors and bankers are learning that biodiversity and ecosystems are essential for both economic activity and people’s well-being. For too long, we have taken nature for granted, ignoring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3269631/financiers-can-be-hong-kongs-superpower-biodiversity-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3269631/financiers-can-be-hong-kongs-superpower-biodiversity-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jul 2024 01:30:09 +0000 Mia Castagnone Mia Castagnone The Hong Kong government has become the largest source of climate-aligned government bonds in Asia and the fifth largest cumulative issuer of government green bonds in the world, according to a new report from the Climate Bonds Initiative. The city’s sustainable debt market achieved its largest growth yet in 2023, increasing by 236 per cent year on year to US$18.2 billion, according to the non-profit’s report on Monday. Green-theme debt made up most of the market, at US$15.6 billion, with the... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3267802/hong-kong-government-leads-asia-green-bond-issuance-becomes-5th-largest-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3267802/hong-kong-government-leads-asia-green-bond-issuance-becomes-5th-largest-worldwide?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:01:37 +0000 Eric Ng Eric Ng Hong Kong will host 300 finance executives and international speakers next week in what will be the city’s largest sustainable finance event focused on talent development in emerging Asian economies. Empowering Sustainability Prosperity in Asia aims to share knowledge and foster collaboration on the low-carbon transition in the region, with an emphasis on southeast, central, and east Asia. With seminars and discussions on sustainable finance policies, sustainability disclosures, the low-carbon... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3267527/hong-kong-host-citys-largest-asia-focused-green-finance-training-event-300-guests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3267527/hong-kong-host-citys-largest-asia-focused-green-finance-training-event-300-guests?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2024 06:00:21 +0000 Yujie Xue Yujie Xue Climate-focused mutual funds in China saw a decline in assets and product launches last year despite an uptick in inflows, with the funds prone to huge volatility because of speculative trading, according to Morningstar. Assets of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with a climate-related mandate in China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, declined by 16 per cent to US$37.6 billion in 2023, a report from the US financial services firm showed. While inflows into... https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/article/3266805/china-climate-focused-funds-saw-higher-inflows-fewer-launches-last-year-morningstar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/investor-relations/article/3266805/china-climate-focused-funds-saw-higher-inflows-fewer-launches-last-year-morningstar?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Jun 2024 23:00:15 +0000 Investors are eager to pour funds into achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) in emerging markets, but companies and government institutions are leaving money on the table because they are not doing enough to trumpet their contributions towards those objectives, according to JPMorgan. To give capital providers the confidence to invest, governments and companies need to paint a better picture of their dedication by setting targets, devising action plans and providing... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3266574/jpmorgan-capital-seekers-must-pitch-their-commitment-esg-un-sustainability-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3266574/jpmorgan-capital-seekers-must-pitch-their-commitment-esg-un-sustainability-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jun 2024 05:12:44 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Investor interest in the ultra-long-term special government bonds rolled out last month by the Ministry of Finance has caught the eye of indebted local governments hungry for funds. But where are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3265299/chinas-local-governments-are-missing-out-major-source-funds-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3265299/chinas-local-governments-are-missing-out-major-source-funds-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2024 03:30:09 +0000 Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is adding uncertainty to an already uncertain world, but Hong Kong can cope with the challenges by leveraging its hub status and acting as a gateway to China, according to veteran HSBC banker Peter Wong Tung-shun. “The younger generation today has access to a lot more information than we had in my day,” Wong said in City Business Magazine, a biannual publication of City University, of which he is chairman of the international advisory board. “The world is... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3264300/hsbc-veteran-banker-peter-wong-urges-hong-kongs-youth-be-wary-generative-ai-technology-can-create?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3264300/hsbc-veteran-banker-peter-wong-urges-hong-kongs-youth-be-wary-generative-ai-technology-can-create?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 May 2024 11:24:01 +0000 The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has issued a “green taxonomy” framework to help banks and investors determine the sustainability of economic activities, the de facto central bank’s latest effort to boost the city’s standing as a green finance centre. “The release of the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance marks a key milestone for Hong Kong’s sustainable finance landscape,” Eddie Yue Wai-man, CEO of HKMA, said in a statement on Friday. “By providing a common language and framework... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3261378/hong-kong-introduces-green-finance-taxonomy-boost-citys-fundraising-credentials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3261378/hong-kong-introduces-green-finance-taxonomy-boost-citys-fundraising-credentials?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 May 2024 11:30:24 +0000 To achieve its climate goals, Hong Kong should close three “loopholes” in green finance by setting volume targets, restricting fossil fuel financing and enacting a specialised anti-greenwashing law, according to Greenpeace. While the city boasts of being the top green finance hub in Asia, having arranged over one-third of Asia’s green and sustainable bond issuances, it needs to do more to prevent “greenwashing”, said a joint report by the environmental campaigner, along with climate-action group... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3256410/hong-kongs-status-green-finance-hub-danger-loopholes-lack-greenwashing-checks-greenpeace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3256410/hong-kongs-status-green-finance-hub-danger-loopholes-lack-greenwashing-checks-greenpeace?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Mar 2024 02:00:35 +0000 On Monday, Hong Kong hosts the inaugural One Earth Summit international sustainability conference, co-organised by the World Economic Forum’s Giving to Amplify Earth Action initiative. We can expect the meeting to attract global business leaders and many of Asia’s top sustainability financiers. There’s hope that they will help steer investment into much-needed areas. But they need to avoid drinking the Kool-Aid of “saving the planet” through capital flows, glossing over the real crises we... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3256421/hong-kongs-one-earth-summit-must-set-sustainability-standards-not-hide-behind-superficial-talk-green?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3256421/hong-kongs-one-earth-summit-must-set-sustainability-standards-not-hide-behind-superficial-talk-green?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Mar 2024 02:00:37 +0000 Transition finance, instruments that fund emission reduction projects by companies in carbon-intensive industries, will grow in importance because of massive funding gap and regulatory support in Asia, even as issuers face reputational risks, according to experts. “The region’s [decarbonisation] funding gap will remain large given the scale of investment required, but we expect transition finance channelled through the sustainable debt markets to gain momentum, bolstered by governments’... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3255455/transition-finance-seen-crucial-tool-fight-against-climate-change-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3255455/transition-finance-seen-crucial-tool-fight-against-climate-change-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Mar 2024 23:30:11 +0000