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The article discusses the factors that are pushing the dematerialization of trade documentation forward in Asia. Banks and corporates based in the continent have been able to adopt fundamental change, delivering levels of automation unparalleled even by Western counterparts. They have gradually adopted electronic documents for presentation and crucially realized the use of an electronic bill of lading. These trends are now recognized in China, Korea, and Japan.

The article informs that investors and stock analysts will be playing a key role in reshaping corporate accountability, as Asian equity markets become more open. Many chief executives in the region are fast realizing this. Much needs to be done. In the emerging markets, there is a broad sweep of companies that still operate very much as if they were privately-held entities. In these markets, investors do not hesitate to use sharply critical language when describing the management. Even in the more developed markets, a handful of corporates are notorious for their constant paper shuffling. The article produces separate rankings for companies which investors and analysts consider as having the most deficient senior management and three of the smaller companies with the brightest outlook for profits growth. Where there is a consensus view, results are also presented in the following pages. A total of 143 returns were received by the authors over a four-week period. Of this total, 98 forms were sent in by institutional investors. About two-thirds of the returns were from Asia-Pacific investors while the balance came from those based in Great Britain, continental Europe and Japan. Equity analysts based in the Asia Pacific region submitted 45 returns. One of the biggest drawbacks of ranking companies in this poll is that it excludes all non-listed companies.

The article focuses on Nomura International PLC. Nomura International PLC (Hong Kong) yearns to be taken seriously. After 33 some what pedestrian years in Hong Kong and the region, it wants to shed the image of being a mere branch office of its Tokyo head-quarters. No effort is being spared. Already, by moving its Asian regional offices to Hong Kong and Singapore less than two years ago, Nomura International PLC has done what no other Japanese securities company has attempted before. In the early 1980s, Nomura International was little more than the sales office for Japanese securities in Asia. Then, as the Nikkei 225 plummeted towards the end of the decade, it ventured offshore and dabbled in debt and equity origination. Its poor understanding of Asian risk and the quick boom and bust cycles of emerging markets, however, bruised it badly and left an inventory of expensive paper. In Taiwan, Nomura International Inc. arranged a US$45 million Euroconvertible bond for Acer Inc., which bombed following its launch. The bond was launched despite uncertainties about the company's fundamentals.

The article presents information related to the use of export credit in the air transport industry in North Asia and potential that exists for such structure in the future. North Asia contains the two biggest country markets, that is, China and Japan, for aircraft imports in Asia. Large volumes of aircraft imports into China have not enhanced its export finance. INSET: Aircraft finance treaty to cut cost of export finance.

Provides information on the top ranking money managers in Asia as of October 2000. Mergers and acquisitions in Asia made by companies, such as Chase Manhattan Corp. and Principal Financial Group; Growth of investments in different sectors; Drop in market shares of companies in Japan; Companies that are forming strategic alliances in China. INSET: How the rankings were compiled.

Analyzes the status of the real estate markets in Asia. Background information on the market status in Japan; Difference between the Japanese and the rest of Asian markets; Significance of diversification.

The article reports on the performance of the bond markets in Asia. Sean Henderson, head of debt syndicate for Asia Pacific at HSBC, says the stability of the local currency markets, which grew marginally in 2008 made them even more important in 2009. According to the article, the Indian rupee bond market is coming into its own in the wake of destructions in world markets. It adds that the Japanese market is one of the first pockets of the bond market which is expected to reopen in 2009.

The article discusses the performance of real estate investment trusts (REI) in Asia. Eleven (REIT) were added in Asia during the first half of 2007, not counting Australia. By the end of June 2007, REIT market capitalization for the region had doubled in 18 months, according to CB Richard Ellis, hitting US$80 billion. Japan remains by far the biggest market in the region, with its 41 REIT worth just under US$50 billion at midyear. Singapore's REIT market is growing at the fastest pace and with the greatest innovation in structure.

The article discusses the potential for mobile money services in Asia-Pacific region by making reference to the introduction of GCash mobile money platform by the company Globe Telecom in Philippines. Topics discussed include success of mobile money, a report from research firm Gartner on value of mobile payment transactions in Asia-Pacific, and mobile phone penetration in developed countries such as South Korea and Japan.

Reports on issues involving Asian finance securitization as of May 31, 2002. Information on the first toll road securitization of Japan; Executives hired by several companies involved in the securitization business.

Presents news on Asian structured finance in June 1999. Launching made by Sanwa on the first securitization of residential mortgages in Japanese banking; Securitization to be launched by Hong Kong property company Sino Land; Documentation for aircraft loan securitization for Hanvit Bank and Korean Exchange Bank by Merrill Lynch.

The article discusses the highlights of a 2015 executive roundtable about the prospects in the Japanese capital markets. Topics covered include the arrival of Maybank in the Samurai market, the decision of Korean banks to pull bank from the Samurai market, and the steady development of the Pro-Bond market. The participants include industry executives Patrick Bryant, Christopher Cornwell, and Hiroyuki Kinoshita.

The article looks at the nationalized and localized lending of banks in Asia. Japanese banks are lending mostly to Japanese companies, Indian banks to Indian firms and so on. The reasons for this trend are because Asian banks have less money available to lend and the foreign bank activity in Asia has decreased. The trends are influenced with the banks deciding where to use their capital and pressure from the markets and government.