Asia Bond Monitor September 2023

This publication reviews recent developments in East Asian local currency bond markets along with the outlook, risks, and policy options. It covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and the Republic of Korea.

This publication reviews recent developments in East Asian local currency bond markets along with the outlook, risks, and policy options. It covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and the Republic of Korea.

This publication reviews recent developments in East Asian local currency bond markets along with the outlook, risks, and policy options. It covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and the Republic of Korea.

This publication reviews recent developments in East Asian local currency bond markets along with the outlook, risks, and policy options. It covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and the Republic of Korea.

This edition shows how a modest improvement in economic fundamentals has buoyed East Asia's local currency bond (LCY) markets, but potential renewed increases in inflation and further interest rate hikes could pose risks for the region's borrowers. Covering the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, China, and the Republic of Korea, the report notes that positive investment sentiment supported a narrowing of risk premiums, a rally in equity markets, and net foreign portfolio inflows. However, interest rates in the region remained elevated, partly due to a rise in bond yields in major advanced economies. Higher borrowing costs have contributed to debt stress and bond defaults in some markets in the region over the past few months.

This edition presents recent developments in emerging East Asian local currency bond markets and features a special section about how increased climate risk awareness can influence investors' trading decisions. Bond yields in emerging East Asia declined from March to May amid easing inflationary pressures in the region and slower monetary tightening in the United States. The region's local currency bond stock grew 9.1% from a year earlier to $23.8 trillion at the end of March. The increase was largely driven by governments frontloading debt issuance to finance programs to support economic recovery. Corporate bond issuance remained moderate, partly due to higher interest rates.

This edition reviews developments in local currency bond markets in emerging East Asia during the fourth quarter of 2023. While the size of these markets expanded by 2.5% quarter-on-quarter, local currency bond issuance contracted 4.8%. The publication notes improved liquidity in most of these markets in 2023. It includes summaries of the region's individual markets. It also looks at financial conditions in emerging East Asia between December 2023 and February 2024, noting marginal improvement.

This publication reviews recent developments in East Asian local currency bond markets along with the outlook, risks, and policy options. It covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and the Republic of Korea.