North Asia

The index provider cited unresolved market-accessibility issues for global investors, including limits around Korean won convertibility. Korean semiconductor giant SK Hynix is seeking direct access to US investors amid surging demand for AI memory chips.

Lillian Li, Moody’s Ratings VP and senior credit officer, explained to FA that companies in manufacturing, high tech, infrastructure and logistics are facing higher geopolitical risks than other sectors; China's outbound direct investment is on the rise.

The HKEX-owned exchange will list a cash-settled HRC contract referencing SHFE prices, offering overseas participants exposure to China’s flat steel market; trading is expected to begin in October.

Japan’s largest taxi-hailing app operator opened 21.25% above its offer price on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with Nomura, Goldman Sachs and BofA Securities acting as joint global coordinators.

The long-serving Societe Generale executive has most recently led the French bank’s global markets business in Japan, and will succeed Bruno Gaussorgues, who is taking on a group head role at the bank.

HKMC’s inaugural public digital bond is the largest digital bond issuance globally to date and the first from a public-sector entity in Hong Kong.

The Taiwan-listed fibre optic and data cable manufacturer will buy the Singapore-headquartered ICT business using cash and Citi financing to strengthen its data centre infrastructure capabilities amid surging AI demand.

The 21-member group will advise on expanding bond tokenisation beyond a series of government pilots, as Hong Kong accelerates its digital financial development.

The Japanese digital payments platform is acquiring a 70.2% stake in T&D Holdings’ life insurance unit, marking its push into life insurance as it expands beyond payments, cards, banking and securities. One Investment Management is also part of the deal.