Asiamoney - Banking and Investment

Banking & investment

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Julius Baer CIO pinpoints three key topics

11 Mar 2010 Stock & exchange, Interviews, Commodities, Foreign exchange, Private banking
Van Anantha-Nageswaran, Bank Julius Baer's CIO, is advising clients to target Asian currency appreciation, agricultural commodities and Thai equities in 2010. He explains his thinking in an interview with asiamoney.com.
RBS names new country head in Japan

10 Mar 2010 M&A, Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Bonds, Market move
RBS has appointed Ernfred Olsen as country executive and head of global banking and markets for Japan. Olsen joined the lender last month and succeeds Lee Knight, who relocated to Singapore to become head of markets.
Citi’s Asia trade and treasury chief eyes growth

10 Mar 2010 Cash management, Interviews, Market move
The bank’s new head of Treasury and Trade Solutions for Asia-Pacific, Sridhar Kanthadai, says he is seeing a flurry of requests for proposals as Asian businesses seek to centralize costs. He talks about his new role, his priorities and his outlook for 2010.
UBS captures FICC chief in Taiwan: sources

09 Mar 2010 Structured products, Investment banking, Commodities, Bonds, Foreign exchange, Market move
The Swiss bank is understood to have hired Frank Suen from Citi to be head of fixed income, currencies and commodities for Taiwan. It would be the second veteran Citi banker that UBS has hired in recent weeks.
Wealth manager BSI launches Asia blitz

09 Mar 2010 Market move, Private banking
The Switzerland-based firm says it is launching a new initiative to expand its business in Asia. It is timed to coincide with the official start of Hanspeter Brunner as CEO of BSI Bank Ltd Singapore.
Regional head of equities quits Nomura

08 Mar 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Market move
Sigurbjorn Thorkelsson resigned last week as head of Nomura’s regional equities business in Hong Kong, the latest in a string of senior departures from the bank. Nomura also announced a management reshuffle today.
Julius Baer names south-east Asia head

08 Mar 2010 Market move, Private banking
The firm has appointed David Lim as private banking head for south-east Asia. He succeeds Wilfred Kofmehl, who steps down to focus on key client relationships. Asiamoney.com interviews regional CEO Thomas Meier on the move and the bank's growth plans.
Wealth management merry-go-round: Asia update

08 Mar 2010 Market move, Private banking
Hiring activity has been rampant in Asia’s wealth management markets over the past six months. Asiamoney.com sums up the key industry moves.
Investment bank Nomura reshuffles global deck

08 Mar 2010 Investment banking, Market move
Nomura revealed a series of management appointments today in an organisational reshuffle. It includes promoting Hiromasa Yamazaki to global markets CEO as well as Rachid Bouzouba to co-head of global equities.
New Nomura banking chiefs eye Asia growth

07 Mar 2010 Investment banking, Interviews, Market move
Eighteen months after the Japanese bank bought the regional assets of Lehman Brothers, Colin Banfield and Patrick Schmitz-Morkramer, the joint-heads of investment banking for Asia ex-Japan, outline their strategy and growth ambitions.
Citi hires corporate banking director in Australia

05 Mar 2010 Investment banking, Market move
The US bank has appointed Brett Hamner as director in its corporate banking team for Australia, according to an internal memo. He joins from Deutsche Bank, where he had been head of corporate banking in Australia.
Fund manager focuses on stock-picker’s paradise

03 Mar 2010 Stock & exchange, Nations & economies, Asset management
Global economic growth will be slower than market consensus and equity investors should take advantage by targeting industry-leaders as they are best placed to benefit from potential consolidation, says Greg Woodard.
RBS Coutts moves global joint CIO to Asia

03 Mar 2010 Market move, Private banking
The international private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland said it had relocated global co-chief investment officer Nick Cringle to Hong Kong. Manfred Liechti also started in Singapore this week as its market head for south-east Asia.
UBS hires FICC co-heads for Asia, say sources

02 Mar 2010 Investment banking, Bonds, Foreign exchange, Market move
The bank is believed to have hired Thomas Siegmund from Nomura and Shahryar Mahbub from Citi to co-head fixed income, currencies and commodities for Asia ex-Japan. It is seen as part of a build out to catch up rivals.
Nomura appoints senior banking duo in India

02 Mar 2010 Investment banking, Bonds, Loans, Foreign exchange, Market move
The firm named Nipun Goel head of investment banking for India and Nitin Jain co-head of fixed income for India. Goel joins from BoA-ML in India, while Jain was most recently CEO of the primary dealership at ICICI Securities.
Marcel Kreis eyes 20% growth in net new assets

02 Mar 2010 M&A, Nations & economies, Private banking
The head of Credit Suisse’s Asia-Pacific private banking business says he wants to grow regional net new assets up to 20% per annum over the next three years. He has faith in the region, but also in the bank’s Swiss home market.
Credit Suisse in Asia private banking reshuffle

01 Mar 2010 Market move, Private banking
The bank names Werner Schlossmacher head of investment solutions for south-east Asia and Australasia in a reshuffle, adding to his role as head of structured derivatives. He succeeds Christian Senn as the bank pushes into the ultra-high-net-worth segment.
BarCap confirms appointment of Johan Leven

01 Mar 2010 Investment banking, Market move
Barclays Capital announced today it had appointed former Goldman Sachs veteran banker Johan Leven as co-head of corporate finance for Asia-Pacific in a move first reported by asiamoney.com.
Asia sees increase in M&A activity

01 Mar 2010 M&A, Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Bonds, League table
There has been a 42% year-on-year rise in regional M&A in 2010, according to data provider Dealogic. Equity and debt issuance is also on the rise. Asiamoney.com reviews last week’s key capital markets activity in Asia.
Goldman veteran Leven set to join BarCap

26 Feb 2010 M&A, Investment banking, Market move
Barclays Capital is set to name Johan Leven as its head of regional corporate finance in Asia, asiamoney.com understands. The former co-head of regional M&A at Goldman returns after five months out of the industry.
Cautious growth seen in hiring, salaries this year

26 Feb 2010 Investment banking, Nations & economies, Market move
Recruitment firm Robert Walters says hiring and salary levels in Asia’s financial services industry will begin to rise again this year as economies continue to recover. But companies are also expected to change their compensation structure.
Japan's investment bank of the year: Nomura

25 Feb 2010 Investment banking, Polls & awards
Nomura was involved in notable M&A transactions, dominated equity issuance and did a sterling job in bond coverage, too. It rightly wins Asiamoney's award as best investment bank in Japan over the past year.
Headhunters Poll 2010: full results revealed

25 Feb 2010 M&A, Stock & exchange, Hedge funds, Private equity, Structured products, Investment banking, Bonds, Broking, Polls & awards, Private banking
Asiamoney’s Headhunters Poll 2010 saw some familiar favourites interspersed with new faces rising to the top. We reveal the top recruiters of the past year as voted for by poll respondents, and consider the prospects for 2010.
Analysts predict upturn for hedge fund industry

24 Feb 2010 Hedge funds, Asset management
Eurekahedge analysts are conservatively predicting a 12% increase in global industry AUM as the sharp change in market conditions from mid-January prompts more investors to seek greater downside protection.
Investors warned of repeating hedge fund mistakes

23 Feb 2010 Hedge funds, Asset management
Investment consultant Aongus O’Gorman is sceptical that investors have learned the lessons of the financial crisis as the market makes a cautious return to hedge funds.
Hong Kong banking sector forecast to stay weak

23 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Nations & economies, Loans
Todd Dunivant, head of bank research for Asia-Pacific at HSBC, notes that Hong Kong’s banking sector will continue to underperform as long as western economies remain weak.
DBS confirms head of global transaction services

23 Feb 2010 Cash management, Market move
The Singaporean bank has appointed Tom McCabe from StanChart as head of global transaction services. He succeeds Pranam Wahi, who is being transferred to be Middle East head for DBS Bank, effective from March.
Japan's equity arranger of the year: Nomura

22 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Polls & awards
Nomura is almost the only domestic investment bank willing and able to arrange sizeable equity issues. Its dominance, as bookrunner on nine of the top 10 deals of last year, made it a shoe-in for Asiamoney's award.
Market praises UBS’ move to unite DCM teams

22 Feb 2010 Investment banking, Bonds, Loans, Market move
Observers say the bank’s move to unite debt origination businesses in Asia is smart and will boost revenues. UBS has made a number of DCM appointments in the region, according to an internal memo seen by asiamoney.com.
BarCap names O’Sullivan as head of equity research

22 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Broking, Market move
The investment bank has appointed Stephen O’Sullivan as head of equity research for non-Japan Asia, based in Hong Kong. He joins from Macquarie Securities in a move that first reported by asiamoney.com back in November.
Citi reveals raft of India equities hires

22 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Market move
The bank has bolstered its Indian equities business with nine appointments in the past few months. They include Keshav Sanghi as deputy head of equities for India and Richard Macfarlane as head of execution services.
Japan's M&A adviser of the year: Nomura

19 Feb 2010 M&A, Investment banking, Polls & awards
The investment bank was responsible for US$29.4 billion of completed M&A deal flow last year for a 21.5% share of the overall market. It earns Asiamoney's nod as Japan's best M&A adviser over the past year.
ANZ hires private banking head in Singapore

19 Feb 2010 Market move, Private banking
The firm has hired Jens Rzesacz as head of its private bank for south and south-east Asia. He returns to the market after a year following his departure last February from Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management.
Asia sees investment banks racing back to risk

19 Feb 2010 Structured products, Investment banking
Derivatives activity is heating up in the region again as yield becomes elusive. Dealers are re-building their teams and jockeying for position, but have they and their clients truly learned their lessons?
StanChart Private Bank makes senior North Asia hires

19 Feb 2010 Market move, Private banking
Standard Chartered Private Bank has appointed Stella Kong as head of relationship management for China, and Trevor Mak as head of relationship management for Hong Kong, asiamoney.com can reveal. Both started this week.
Delays dampen Mongolia IPO excitement

18 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Nations & economies
After the flotation of coal producer SouthGobi Energy Resources last month, observers were anticipating a raft of Mongolian IPOs to follow suit. But a lack of domestic infrastructure and investment has hurt the deal pipeline.
Julius Baer hires IT head in Singapore

18 Feb 2010 Market move, Private banking
The private bank announces the appointment of Eddy Tai as head of information technology for Asia and the Middle East. It said that the move signified the importance of the city-state as a hub to propel its regional growth.
Demand for money market funds to increase

12 Feb 2010 Asset management
Investor interest in liquidity funds could return as government guarantees on deposits expire says HSBC. But such funds must put liquidity and safety ahead of yield.
Asia’s distressed assets worth up to US$50 billion

11 Feb 2010 Bonds, Loans, Asset management
Income Partners and Deutsche Bank estimate that there are US$40 billion to US$50 billion of potentially distressed assets in Asia and Australia, with many companies avoiding default only because of the low interest rate environment.
BoA-Merrill lures Robert Chiu back from Nomura

11 Feb 2010 Investment banking
Robert Chiu has quit as Nomura’s Asia head of telecommunications, media and technology and will re-join Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, asiamoney.com can reveal. He lasted at Nomura for little over a year.
Australia bank awards: best investment bank

11 Feb 2010 Investment banking
UBS beat out vigorous competition to take Asiamoney's best Australian investment bank award for 2009. Its combination of stellar equity work, decent M&A and solid bond underwriting ensured that it continues to stand out.
Deutsche targets Asia investors with fixed income ETFs

11 Feb 2010 Bonds, Asset management
The German bank believes central banks and corporates in Asia will invest further in fixed income exchange-traded funds, and has launched three such funds in Singapore.
Deutsche reels in former UBS banker James Roth

10 Feb 2010 Investment banking
The German bank has hired James Roth to be its head of Asia general industries, asiamoney.com can reveal. He had formerly run UBS’s regional technology, media and telecommunications coverage before going on sabbatical last year.
Buy China health and consumer stocks, advises investor

09 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Asset management
Investors should accumulate healthcare and consumer stocks in China as a long-term investment despite the recent downturn in the country’s equities, according to a fund manager at Neuberger Berman.
Barclays Wealth nabs three South Asia bankers from UBS

09 Feb 2010 Private banking
The UK private bank appointed Vikram Malhotra as head of its South Asia team after snatching him from UBS. Malhotra’s colleagues Jagdish Kale and Rohit Nanani accompanied him to his new employer.
Australia bank awards: Best equity arranger

09 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking
UBS easily stood out as the leading bookrunner of Australian equity during the the busiest year ever for issuance. Responsible for almost one quarter of the market volume, it takes our Australian equity arranger award.
Fund manager promotes high-yield debt, currencies

06 Feb 2010 Bonds, Foreign exchange, Asset management
Rajeev De Mello of Western Asset Management believes companies will take advantage of the fact that absolute yield levels in the high-yield debt market are very low. He also highlights opportunities with some Asian currencies.
BoA-ML names India wealth management heads

05 Feb 2010 Asset management, Market move, Private banking
The bank has named Pradeep Dokania as chairman of global wealth and investment management India in a new role. He is replaced by Atul Singh as head of India advisory as the bank strives to expand in the country.
Citi set to announce Distelbrink replacement

05 Feb 2010 Cash management, Project finance, Market move
The US bank is poised to announce a replacement for Ivo Distelbrink, its recently departed Asia head of treasury and trade solutions. He has joined BoA-ML, which also this week unveiled the appointment of Rick Maloney.
RBS Coutts hires SE Asia market head from UBS

05 Feb 2010 Market move, Private banking
The international private banking arm of RBS has hired Manfred Liechti from UBS as market head for south-east Asia in Singapore. The firm has added over 60 staff in Singapore and Hong Kong since suffering an exodus.
BarCap expected to capture Jeremy Norris

05 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Market move
The investment bank is expected to name Jeremy Norris as its Asia head of equity sales trading, asiamoney.com understands. It would be a coup for the firm, with him returning to the industry after a nine-month break.
HSBC targets growth in Asia asset management

04 Feb 2010 Asset management, Market move
The bank has hired Julie Koo as regional head of institutional sales as part of an expansion drive. It is seeking to build its team of 15 to 20 to capture institutional business, particularly in Japan and Taiwan.
China equity investors urged to diversify overseas

02 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Asset management
Retail investors have piled into China’s equity markets on the back of surging growth. But relatively expensive valuations and fears over asset inflation mean it is time for domestic investors to seek education on how to diversify successfully overseas, say fund managers.
Deutsche sees 2010 corrections as buying opportunities

02 Feb 2010 Stock & exchange, Energy, Bonds, Foreign exchange, Asset management, Private banking
The bank’s wealth management team is advising clients to be dynamic in asset allocation. It believes the global economy is strong enough to withstand a withdrawal of government stimuli, and urges investors to seize on market dips.
Senior China banker in split with Sarasin-Rabo

29 Jan 2010 Market move, Private banking
Stella Kong has parted company with Sarasin-Rabo in acrimonious circumstances, asiamoney.com has learned. She had spent almost two years as its vice-chairwoman, Greater China, and is now rumoured to be joining Standard Chartered.
ING’s asset management arm names Asian CIO

29 Jan 2010 Asset management, Market move
ING Investment Management has promoted Pranay Gupta as chief investment officer for Asia-Pacific, based in Hong Kong. The asset manager falls under the insurance group of businesses that ING has vowed to divest by 2013.
OCBC aims to extend private banking reach

29 Jan 2010 M&A, Private banking
OCBC unveils its Bank of Singapore wealth management entity following acquisition of the Asian private banking assets of ING. Its CEO David Conner is hoping to infiltrate new markets such as the Middle East and Europe.
Further decoupling forecast for Asian nations

28 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Nations & economies, Asset management
Increasing domestic demand will see Asian economies continue to decouple from developed countries as the region becomes less dependent on exports, notes UK-based fund manager Aberdeen Asset Management.
Rapid rush back to prime broking prompts warning

28 Jan 2010 Hedge funds, Investment banking, Market move
The revival of Asia’s hedge fund industry has boosted the fortunes of prime brokers. But market participants say the rapid rush to expand in this area might backfire, given that the speed of recovery remains uncertain.
Bankers see investor shift towards commodities

27 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Structured products, Nations & economies, Commodities, Private banking
Emerging market economies offered strong returns last year, but bankers are touting commodities as a potential trend for 2010. Given the likelihood of price volatility and seasonality, they expect investor education lies in store.
BNY Mellon targets regional broker-dealer segment

26 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Asset management, Market move
The US-based financial services firm adds David Brown as vice-president for broker-dealer global sales in its Hong Kong office. He will be responsible for selling the firm’s broker-dealer capabilities to clients in Asia-Pacific.
US-based asset manager makes Hong Kong hire

25 Jan 2010 Asset management, Market move
American Century Investments named Elizabeth Trinh from Macquarie Bank as vice-president in its Hong Kong office. The firm is striving to build up its Asian presence.
HSBC names Anita Fung in expanded role

25 Jan 2010 Private equity, Investment banking, Asset management, Market move
The bank appoints Anita Fung as its Asia-Pacific head of Global Banking and Markets in what is a newly formed role. She will take care of regional corporate and investment banking, as well as asset management.
BNP inks Taiwanese asset management JV

24 Jan 2010 Asset management, Market move
The asset management arm of BNP Paribas has signed a deal with Taiwan Cooperative Bank to form a joint-venture company. The match appears to be a promising one as the island’s financial markets continue to develop.
Wealth managers return to in-house products

20 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Bonds, Private banking
Private wealth management institutions increased aggregate allocation to in-house products to 40% last year, a rise of 12 percentage points, a survey has found. It comes as firms seek to bolster diminishing margins.
Regulatory regime tipped to alter hedge fund landscape

19 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Hedge funds, Nations & economies, Asset management
Stringent regulatory requirements could make hedge funds more expensive to manage and may force firms to change location. A research house has picked potential winners and losers among industry strategies this year.
India’s Avendus hires Kapadia as private wealth head

19 Jan 2010 Market move, Private banking
Financial services firm Avendus Capital has appointed Nikhil Kapadia from Deutsche Bank to be chief executive of its private wealth management business. He returns to Mumbai after less than a year in Singapore.
BNY Mellon names head of Taiwan depositary receipts

19 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Asset management, Market move
The financial services firm has hired Frances Ni to run its depositary receipts business in Taiwan. The appointment comes after the bank tipped Asian issuers to continue dominating the depositary receipt industry this year.
BarCap adds regional head of equity sales

19 Jan 2010 Investment banking, Market move
Barclays Capital names Anthony Davies as a managing director and head of equity sales for non-Japan Asia. He will be based in Hong Kong and joins from Merrill Lynch, where he was head of Pacific Rim equity distribution.
Veteran Harvey set for Credit Suisse return

19 Jan 2010 Asset management, Market move
The firm has appointed its former investment banking head Neil Harvey as managing director in charge of Asia-Pacific and emerging markets globally for its asset management business, effective from February 1.
Credit Suisse highlights the merits of going green

18 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Energy, Private banking
Its private banking division has established a research institute to identify big picture trends shaping the future. Highlighting appealing valuations, it makes a compelling argument for making renewable energy investments.
Citi surprises market with Morrison appointment

18 Jan 2010 Investment banking, Market move
The US bank names former Morgan Stanley chairman and CEO Alasdair Morrison as senior advisor for its Asia business in a newly created role. He has been tasked with helping to drive expansion in its regional investment banking business.
Asian markets cough up just two deals of note

18 Jan 2010 M&A, Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Bonds, League table
India’s GTL Infrastructure moves to more than double its network of towers, while Westpac prices a Samurai bond. Asiamoney.com rounds up what was an otherwise slow week for capital market activity in Asia ex-Japan.
Recruiter Sirius Partners opens its doors in Asia

18 Jan 2010 Investment banking, Market move
The financial recruitment firm believes it can seize market share in an increasingly crowded space as the region’s investment banking industry grows at a rapid clip.
LGT urges equity investors to wait for Fed action

14 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Commodities, Bonds, Foreign exchange, Private banking
The wealth manager advises clients to stay fully invested in equities as governments and central banks will do whatever is necessary to avoid a deflationary or double-dip scenario. It doesn't expect the Fed to tighten in 2010.
Asia expansion sees Houlihan Lokey hire Chen

14 Jan 2010 Investment banking, Market move
US boutique investment bank Houlihan Lokey has named Bing Chen a Hong Kong managing director for financial advisory services. It says it is aiming to increase its China presence strongly as part of a regional expansion.
StanChart Private Bank appoints global head of trust

13 Jan 2010 Market move, Private banking
Standard Chartered Private Bank has named Mark Jackman as global head of its trust and fiduciary business. Previously he was Asia head for Rothschild Private Banking & Trust.
UBS Wealth Management hires Vinay Gandhi

12 Jan 2010 Market move, Private banking
The Swiss bank has appointed Vinay Gandhi to run its non-resident Indian business out of Singapore. He joins after a very short stint at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, which only announced his hire last November.
J.P. Morgan Private Bank to relocate global head to Asia

12 Jan 2010 Market move, Private banking
Doug Wurth is set to relocate from New York to Hong Kong as head of international private banking for J.P. Morgan. The move follows an unsettling period for the US private bank, which has had several regional departures.
Julius Baer picks up Lee from UBS in Singapore

11 Jan 2010 Market move, Private banking
The Swiss wealth manager announces the appointment of Lee Boon Keng as managing director and joint-head of its investment solutions group in Singapore. He came from UBS, where he worked for just three months.
Nomura names regional investment banking heads

11 Jan 2010 Investment banking, Market move
The bank has made Patrick Schmitz-Morkramer and Colin Banfield heads of investment banking for Asia ex-Japan. They succeed Glenn Schiffman, who moves to New York as the firm’s head of investment banking for the Americas.
UBS names Marx as country team head in Singapore

08 Jan 2010 Market move, Private banking
The Swiss bank has hired Reto Marx as country team head for south Asia ultra-high-net-worth business in Singapore. He starts in May, having parted company with Sarasin in October as its south-east Asia head.
CLSA hires investment banker Lai from SocGen

07 Jan 2010 Investment banking, Market move
Paul Lai started this week as head of Hong Kong and Greater China investment banking at CLSA. He quit Société Générale late last year and is a former head of Hong Kong investment banking at HSBC.
Credit Suisse Private Banking outlines 2010 upside

07 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Nations & economies, Commodities, Private banking
The division is retaining an overweight on non-Japan equities, with indices in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea offering the most potential. It also expects the renminbi to appreciate up to 5% during the year.
Stay invested during quiet first quarter, urges HSBC

06 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Commodities, Energy, Bonds, Foreign exchange, Private banking
Arjuna Mahendran, Asia head of investment strategy for HSBC Private Bank, sees 2010 as a year of three halves: a quiet first quarter followed by a potential bull-run and then renewed tightening by central banks at the end.
Heavyweight banking trio top 2009 tables

04 Jan 2010 M&A, Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Bonds
UBS, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley finished last year as the top bookrunners for Asia ex-Japan equity, debt and M&A transactions, according to Dealogic data.
Hong Kong’s IPO market tipped to surge in 2010

04 Jan 2010 Stock & exchange, Investment banking, Nations & economies
Debut listings in the city are forecast to top HK$300 billion this year as firms strive to tap into China’s growth, PricewaterhouseCoopers says. Hong Kong's capital markets are expected to be less volatile than global counterparts, with interest rates forecast to remain low.

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