Economy and commerce
Banking and financial services
What AIIB means for ASEAN connectivity
In 2009, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecast that from 2010 to 2020, Asia would need US$8 trillion in national infrastructure. The discussion on connectivity in Asia has continued since then, but it was China that seized the moment with its proposal in 2013 for ...
Rules passed for derivatives
Cambodia has moved to formalise its ill-regulated derivatives sector by launching a key regulation earlier this month. On July 2, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC) approved the prakas on the “Licensing and Supervision of Derivative Trading”. The prakas regulates the sector by allowing individuals ...
KBank, Aeon connect in Laos
Kasikornthai Bank in Laos has extended loans and offered financial management services to Aeon Leasing Service (Lao) to support its retail and motorcycle-financing business there. Both parties are also ready to jointly develop payment channels and other innovative services in a bid to assist Thai investors ...
Life insurers break records in Vietnam - but from a very, very low base
Life insurance premiums in Vietnam are on track for yet another record year, but industry observers say the gains are coming from a very low base and that foreign insurers have yet to truly crack the market despite dominating the sector. Premiums from life insurance plans ...
Time to set the Kyat free
The Burmese kyat has recently fallen. Down around 13 percent this year, and 26 percent since the instigation of the “managed float” arrangements in 2012, the decline in the kyat has also brought with it a return of many of the economically repressive impulses of ...
Nearly half of the Chinese stock market halts trading
Listed Chinese companies have rushed to halt trading in their shares today as the rout on the Shanghai and Shenzen exchanges continues. The South China Morning Post reports that 51 per cent of mainland Chinese stocks, representing some US$2.2 trillion in market capitalisation, have asked for voluntary ...