This report explores each of these conditions along with policy suggestions for fostering them, and discusses the development of multi-country CAT bonds in Asia and the Pacific.

The Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India is a regular publication on regional economic growth and development in Emerging Asia – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as China and India. It comprises three parts: a regional economic monitor, a thematic chapter addressing a major issue facing the region, and a series of country notes.

Provides a comprehensive survey of the East Asian bond markets, identifies best practices for fostering their development, and presents a broad agenda for further reforms. East Asia's spectacular economic performance over the past several decades has been marked by macroeconomic stability, consistent growth, low inflation, the lowering of trade barriers, and an overall improvement in living standards. The region now has a well developed banking system and boasts four of the top 20 stock markets in the world. Its bond markets, however, are relatively small and at an early stage of development. This report provides a comprehensive survey of the East Asian bond markets, identifies best practices for fostering their development, and presents a broad agenda of reforms for their further development. The report, which is based on studies of bond markets in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, finds great diversity among those markets. It was presented at the Emerging Asian Bond Market Conference, co-sponsored by the World Bank and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and held in Hong Kong, June 26-27, 1995. It is believed that with the proper institutional prerequisites in place, the markets will grow very rapidly and become a leading source of financing for the region. "The [study] and this conference mark the World Bank's increasing support and participation in the development of bond markets in the region." --Joseph Yam, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Drawing on lessons learned in the Asian financial crisis of 1997, one initiative that is gaining momentum is the development of regional bond markets as a mechanism to channel savings into investment within Asia. The governments and central banks in each country are linking their networks with the private sector to both put in place and standardize bond market infrastructures and to promote the creation of funds comprising bonds denominated in local currencies, efforts which are starting to bear fruit. This paper explains developments in this area and discusses the future direction of the initiative.

The paper makes an assessment of the progress made in developing local debt markets in emerging Asia. Market development has been limited by hurdles confronting borrowers and lenders, current and potential liquidity providers, and insufficient support from government policies and regulations. Besides fostering a credit culture to deepen local debt markets, the issue of critical size can be addressed through an integrated regional market for local currency bonds that provides greater scale, efficiency, and access. With rapid economic growth in Asia, a key challenge is to generate financial assets that can provide the underlying collateral for expanding fixed-income markets, and hence domestic and regional investment opportunities.

This report provides updates on the bond market in Hong Kong, China since the publication of the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide 2016: Hong Kong, China. It also highlights those changes and developments that have a connection to the bond market of the People’s Republic of China. The ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide series provides member-specific information on the investment climate, rules, laws, opportunities, and characteristics of local bond markets in Asia and the Pacific. It aims to help bond market issuers, investors, and financial intermediaries understand the local context and to encourage greater participation in the region’s rapidly developing bond markets.

The ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide series provides member-specific information on the investment climate, rules, laws, opportunities, and characteristics of local bond markets in Asia and the Pacific. It aims to help bond market issues, investors, and financial intermediaries understand the local context and encourage greater participation in the region’s rapidly developing bond markets. This edition focuses on updates in the bond market in Indonesia since the publication of the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Guide for Indonesia in 2017.