With foreign exchange reserves bulging with low-yielding US treasuries it is no secret that from Seoul to Singapore, Asia's central banks are casting around for something a little more exciting.
China, with over $400 billion stashed away, is a prime candidate for diversification and bankers at the forum organized by the Association of German Mortgages in Beijing on Thursday confirmed they had sold such products to the government - although they would not be drawn on how much.
The attraction of Pfandbriefe - Germany's favourite financing instrument - is that they offer great security with a nice yield pick up over German government 'bunds' or treasury bonds, points out Dr Louis...
