Bonds

Rakuten chief Hiroshi Mikitani at a company presentation. The Japanese e-commerce company has struggled to overcome rising costs in its mobile phone business. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Bonds

Rakuten to issue $1.8bn in bonds to shore up mobile business

Company's biggest-ever offering comes after downgrade to junk rating

7 January 2023
Some traders see pressure on the yen eventually forcing the Bank of Japan's hand if it keeps interest rates low.
Bonds

Highest bond coupon in 7 years puts pressure on BOJ yield cap

10-year JGBs hit 0.5% mark, signaling heavier Japanese fiscal burden

6 January 2023
A man walks past the Bank of Japan's headquarters in Tokyo.
Bonds

BOJ sets monthly record for bond purchases in December

Tamping down long-term rates contributed to buying of 17tn yen in JGBs

31 December 2022
Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda holds a news conference Dec. 20 after the BOJ decided to raise the cap on 10-year yields to 0.5%. (Pool photo)
Bank of Japan

BOJ could end yield curve control next spring: U.K. hedge fund

BlueBay CIO says to keep shorting JGBs, seeing more room for yields to rise

23 December 2022
The Bank of Japan's  headquarters in Tokyo. Ending negative interest rates would have far-reaching effects on Japan's economy. (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Economy

Japan rate hike expectations lift 2-year bond yields above zero

Swaps price in end to BOJ's negative rate policy next spring

22 December 2022
Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has faced pressure as the BOJ's ultraloose monetary policy fueled price increases for imported goods.
Economy

BOJ bites the bullet with unexpected policy shift

Japanese central bank's hand forced by criticism over falling yen

21 December 2022
The Bank of Japan has continued to purchase government bonds even as the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank move to reduce their holdings. (Photo by Nozomu Ogawa)
Bonds

BOJ holds over 50% of Japanese government bonds for 1st time

Central bank sticks with quantitative easing as U.S., European counterparts tighten

20 December 2022
A construction site in New Delhi: India needs investment to expand supplies of essentials, including food, shelter and infrastructure.
Opinion

India must embrace foreign financing to meet investment needs

Clearing path for overseas bond buyers will support infrastructure and business

30 November 2022
Billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani's Rakuten e-commerce group is raising more money to expand its wireless business. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Bonds

Rakuten braves 10%-plus borrowing cost in new $500m bond sale

Junk note issuance tests group's resolve on loss-making mobile business

26 November 2022
BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has pledged to maintain the yield curve control policy despite aggressive short selling by foreigners.
Bonds

BOJ's buying power faces limits in fight against bond vigilantes

Central bank's ownership exceeded 100% of instruments issued

15 November 2022
Japan's debt pile has reached a record high as spending growth outstrips economic expansion
Bonds

Japan's debt pile grows as government bonds hit record $7tn

Post-pandemic recovery brings no relief to G-7's worst debt-to-GDP ratio

11 November 2022
Japan's government expects a bump in tax revenue, but spending is rising even faster.
Politics

Japan to rely on debt for nearly 80% of $200bn stimulus package

Extra budget brings yearly borrowing to second-highest amount on record

5 November 2022
Life insurers in Japan, the top foreign holder of U.S. government debt, have slashed their holdings of foreign bonds in recent months.
Insurance

Japan insurers shun U.S. government debt over currency hedge costs

Cuts to Treasury holdings set to continue, putting upward pressure on yields

26 October 2022
China's currency is under pressure as foreign investors sell stocks and bonds.
Markets

China's bond market bleeds $83bn as foreign investors cut holdings

Concerns over Russia sanctions may be limiting Chinese exposure, analysts say

7 October 2022
One strategist said foreign investors were concerned about India’s capacity to handle clearing and settlement of trades.
Bonds

JPMorgan declines to add India to widely followed bond index

Bank's decision follows investor concerns over country's market infrastructure

5 October 2022
China's Treasury bond holdings dropped by $100 billion in the first half of 2022.
Bonds

China cuts U.S. debt holdings 9% in suspected shift to tax havens

Beijing fears possible asset freeze after sanctions on Russian central bank

22 September 2022
China's holdings of Japanese government bonds leaves Beijing in a position to further weaken the yen.
Comment

China's stance on selling Japan bonds: once a lifeline, now a threat

Cross-holding deal from 2011 remains unrealized as tensions flare

26 August 2022
A wind farm in China's Gansu province. Competing standards on green bonds in China have fueled concerns over greenwashing.
Climate Change

China's green-bond issuances doubled for January-June half

Government prepares stricter standards to allay greenwashing concerns

19 August 2022
A girl covers her face with her clothes as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 in Gurugram, India: Social bonds offer an effective way to address the needs involved with poverty and other social challenges.
Opinion

Setting standards will help Asian social bond market to flourish

Issuance of debt to address local challenges is soaring, but rules needed

17 August 2022
Japan's debt load remains an outlier among advanced economies at more than twice the country's gross domestic product.
Economy

Japan's national debt tops 10m yen per capita for first time

Borrowing reaches record at end of June as Tokyo combats COVID, inflation

11 August 2022
The yuan is increasingly being seen as an alternative currency as Russian companies seek to cut their dependence on the U.S. dollar as Western sanctions put a squeeze on their operations.
Caixin

Yuan bonds debut in Russia as challenge to dollar dominance builds

Firms increasing use of Chinese currency to side-step Ukraine war-related sanctions

9 August 2022
Singapore aims to improve public transportation services in order to reduce people's reliance on cars.
Environment

Singapore to raise $2bn from its first green bonds this month

Float will finance rail network expansion to reduce automobile use

6 August 2022
Under Haruhiko Kuroda, the Bank of Japan has stayed the course on monetary easing despite rising inflation. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Markets

Recession risk burns bond vigilantes fighting against Bank of Japan

JGB rally has left short-sellers with paper losses as Kuroda holds the line

26 July 2022
Data from the U.S. Treasury Department shows that China held $981 billion in Treasury securities at the end of May. 
Bonds

China's Treasury holdings drop below $1tn to 12-year low

Rising U.S. rates and Russia sanctions add fuel to Beijing's push away from dollar

20 July 2022
A railway project in China's Jiangsu Province.
China debt crunch

30% of China's local governments may face severe debt strain: S&P

Infrastructure bonds and COVID curbs squeeze budgets hit by real estate slump

15 July 2022