Amid a trade slowdown, IPOs, the issuance of convertible bonds, and cross-border M&A, including in the Middle East, are set to continue.

FinanceAsia's editorial team picks five of the biggest stories from the year across M&A, ECM, digital assets and Trump's tariffs.

Mohamed Braham will assume the Hong Kong-based role in January, while retaining his position as deputy global head of fixed income and currencies.

DK Bank in Gelephu Mindfulness City will commence trading of the gold tokens on December 17. A second phase will see a listing of the tokens, which are backed by Bhutan's reserves, on more exchanges and venues for secondary trading.

Cross was most recently chief financial officer at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing.

The benchmark will track the performance of 100 of the largest Hong Kong-listed companies across six themes. In another move, China's E Fund Management is set to launch an ETF for the index.

The Astana International Financial Centre was established to support a modernised finance sector and capital market in central Asia’s largest economy. AIFC’s governor Renat Bekturov spoke to FA about the financial hub's progress, challenges and ambition.

Read on to find out the winners of the Deal Awards - Asia Pacific.

Despite criticism, Roushana Sjahsam, Asean senior board adviser at investment firm Zagga, argues private credit is an emerging asset class for defensive, yield-seeking investors, who want diversification, stable income, and portfolio resilience.

Jean-François Mastrangelo has joined the British bank in Hong Kong; he most recently worked at Societe Generale.