Markets are skittish, prone to starting at shadows or gorging themselves on rumours. Is China’s ‘counter-cyclical bounce’ just the latest piece of scuttlebutt to affect the currency or is the writing on the wall?
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.
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.
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.
As cash-strapped banks offer high rates for long-term deposits, a wise treasurer tell CT he's sticking to one-month deposits. After all, rates can only go up as liquidity is squeezed further.
A recent survey reveals 64% of Hong Kong CFOs have hired an employee who has not been a good fit with the team. CT looks at ways to avoid this situation.