China’s leading optical device manufacturer has seen the equivalent of $29 million wiped out on the back of the renminbi’s devaluation. Meanwhile, the PBoC’s latest move is adding to its pain.
It's like nothing China's treasurers have seen in the past 10 years; a toxic combination of defaults, US rate hikes, a downturn at home, regulatory interference and trade tensions are killing bond issuance.
A 20% reserve requirement set by Chinese regulators on dollar/Rmb forward contracts has an instant impact. As predicted, futures contracts are moving offshore.
Treasurers tell CT what a return to the reserve requirement on forward trading – which puts the brakes on renminbi-US dollar forwards – will mean for their operations.
According to the World Trade Organisation, it’s not just the US and China that are throwing up barricades. Treasurers need to be aware protectionism is on the rise everywhere.
Money market funds have so far failed to find favour with treasurers, except in China. A new product in Hong Kong could change all that – if high fees don't get in the way.
New regulations have put the future of notional pooling in question. But Asia's capital controls mean treasurers at some multinationals still see it as key to handling trapped cash in the region.
China has been pushing for more Panda issuance, and a Hong Kong-listed water supply company has delivered despite not holding the top credit rating. It explains how and why.
Notional cash pooling avoids the physical transfer of foreign exchange, reducing FX risk. The US tech manufacturer's Yvione Zhou explains how it works in Asia.