noble

How much longer can the region's high yield bond bonanza continue after another month of strong issuance?

Hong Kong's ECM market is busy again as issuers take advantage of renewed investor confidence. What a contrast with the autumn when block trades, especially, were hammered.

Commodities trader Noble Group gets debt from its loss-making agriculture unit off its books, while Cofco gains an international trading platform.

Atlas Resources starts bookbuilding for an IPO of up to $125 million with upsize options, while Philippine power producer SMC Global Power postpones its listing plans for now.

Noble Group strikes a deal to buy Sempra Energy Solutions for $582 million in a move shareholders applaud.

Despite volatile markets in Europe and the US, nine bond issuers came to market in Asia last week, including Noble, Chandra Asri, New World, KDB and Star Energy. But Bank of Baroda postponed the launch of its planned deal.

Chinese acquirers move steadily ahead in their pursuit of Australian natural resources companies, creating a healthy pool of fees for investment banks advising on these deals.

The commodities trading company is not deterred by the lack of support from the board of Gloucester Coal and offers shareholders almost 25% more for their backing.

Noble will produce Indian equity research to complement UBS's existing large-cap output.