The battle over the valuation of the Chinese renminbi has often been characterised by vitriolic debate and has seen a titanic clash between Washington and Beijing about the right level for the currency and the speed of appreciation. But efforts to internationalise the renminbi are already taking effect.
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Decision time on FX CCPs
March 8, 2011Two central counterparties are currently being built to clear foreign exchange options. There is a great deal of preparation to be done.
Defaults down and volumes up, but some worries remain
February 23, 2011The boom in high-yield markets has continued into 2011 and money continues to flow into emerging market debt - leading some to talk about bubbles and a return to bad habits. Elsewhere in the debt markets, the financial crisis and its aftermath are still being felt.
Who pays when banks fail?
February 22, 2011A wave of regulations to force creditors to share the pain when 'too big to fail' banks run into trouble will panic investors, say the bankers. But some investors argue the proposals need to go even further.
Africa engages the bond markets
February 22, 2011Despite a sovereign default and the impact of rolling popular uprisings across north Africa, many are increasingly hopeful about the prospects for Africa's debt markets, as improving economic conditions and growing international appetite look set to underpin further new issuance.
Europe lags US securitisation revival
February 22, 2011The European market for commercial mortgage-backed securities seems to be struggling to reinvent itself in time to handle a looming wall of maturities
Conventional banks face sharia restrictions in Qatar
February 21, 2011Qatar's decision to ban conventional banks from operating sharia-based finance units within its financial jurisdiction has left observers concerned the central bank has set the wrong kind of precedent, one that is likely to create uncertainty in banking throughout the Middle East.
BarCap's equity franchise begins to kick
February 18, 2011Barclays Capital is most of the way through its audacious bid to transform its fixed-income prowess into an integrated investment banking offering. There are signs that the investment and effort are beginning to pay off in the equities business.
The appeal of electronic trading for emerging markets
February 16, 2011Appetite for algorithmic and high-frequency trading strategies is rocketing, and many exchanges are gearing up to attract this flow. But significant regional disparities and regulatory barriers may hinder development.
Investors savour dim sum market
February 16, 2011China is using the Hong Kong-based 'dim sum' market to develop its offshore renminbi bond sector and push the local currency onto the international stage. There is a huge pool of liquidity keen to invest and although it must face the typical hurdles of any nascent market, the signs are good