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 finds improvements in emerging East Asian bond markets despite the resurgence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in early 2021. Yet, uncertainties continue to influence economic outlook in Asia and the Pacific. Overall investment sentiment in the region remained subdued amid looming uncertainties in the fight against COVID-19 and inflationary pressure in the United States (US). Yet, there is increasing awareness within the region of the importance of a green and inclusive recovery. Also featured in this edition are the use of green sukuk (Islamic bonds) to fund environment-friendly investments and digital finance for sustainable investments. The theme chapter discusses developments on the public and private governance of sustainable finance.

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.

In the second quarter of 2021, rising COVID-19 cases have cast a shadow over emerging East Asia's growth outlook. Yet the region's financial conditions remain broadly stable amid accommodative monetary policy stances despite some weakening signs. Local currency (LCY) bond markets in emerging East Asia expanded to $21.1 trillion at the end of June, as governments tapped LCY bonds to support recovery measures and contain the negative impact of rising COVID-19 cases. The ASEAN+3 sustainable bond market expanded to $345.2 billion at the end of Q2 2021, accounting for nearly 19% of the global sustainable bond market. The risk to the outlook for regional financial markets remains tilted to the downside. Uncertainty over recovery prospects due to COVID-19, combined with a strong US economic rebound and possible earlier-than-expected monetary policy normalization in the US, could lead to further weakening of financial conditions. This issue of the Asia Bond Monitor features special boxes on emerging East Asia's economic outlook, market capacity and central banks’ asset purchasing programs, debt build-up, and social risk in developing Asia.

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.

The quarterly Asia Bond Monitor reviews developments in emerging East Asian local currency bond markets. The report discusses key trends in the region's bond markets, and 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.

China’s rise will be long-term punitive for the rest of Asia. Across all aspects of Asian geopolitics and economics, China’s ascendency to regional hegemonic status will result in the decline of its neighbours’ political independence, economic dynamism and future growth potential. Any short-term benefits of China’s growth, such as increased trade, will be transitory. The longer-term implications of its emergence as the regional hegemon will be greater economic and financial dependencies and vulnerabilities, the large-scale shift of business activity to within its boundaries and its increasing geopolitical influence across the region. The challenge for China’s neighbours is how to respond to these evolving dynamics, especially as their strategic options are increasingly limited and few of the potential future scenarios are long-term positive. China’s rise, therefore, be Asia’s decline.

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.