News Highlights - Week of 17 - 21 October 2011

The People's Republic of China's (PRC) gross domestic product (GDP) grew 9.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 3Q11, down from 9.5% growth in 2Q11. This is the slowest quarterly GDP growth rate since 2009. The slowdown was due largely to weaker exports. Domestic demand held up relatively well, buoyed by strong industrial production and retail sales growth. 

*The Bank of Thailand decided on 19 October to leave its policy rate unchanged at 3.5%. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas likewise kept its overnight borrowing and lending rates steady last week at 4.5% and 6.5%, respectively.

*Hong Kong, China's consumer price inflation (CPI) accelerated slightly in September to 5.8% y-o-y from 5.7% in August, after a cooling down from a 15-year high in July. Meanwhile, Malaysia's CPI slightly increased to 3.4% y-o-y in September from 3.3% in the previous month.

*In the PRC, the industrial production growth rate rose to 13.8% y-o-y in September from 13.5% in August, while retail sales grew 17.7% y-o-y in September from 17.0% in August. Meanwhile, department store sales in Japan declined for the third consecutive month in September.

*Remittances to the Philippines from overseas workers grew 11.1% y-o-y in August to reach US$1.7 billion. From January through August, cumulative remittances rose 6.9% y-o-y to reach US$13.0 billion.

*Last week, China National Petroleum Corporation (CPNC) priced CNH3 billion of bonds, which were issued through CNPC's offshore entity CNPC Golden Autumn. The Korea National Oil Corporation issued US$1.0 billion worth of 5-year bonds at a yield of 4.137%. The proceeds from the sale will be used to finance overseas oil projects. Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional Bhd. issued its first Islamic CNH bond amounting to CNH500 million through its special purpose vehicle, Danga Capital Bhd. The issue had a tenor of 3 years and was priced at 2.90%. 

*The Philippine Bureau of the Treasury issued PHP110 billion worth of Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs). Of the total amount, PHP54.97 billion were 10-year bonds and PHP55.12 billion were 15-year bonds. The 10- and 15-year RTBs have coupon rates of 5.75% and 6.25%, respectively.

*The PRC's Baosteel was given approval last week to issue CNH bonds in Hong Kong, China. Baosteel is the first non-financial entity from the mainland given approval to issue CNH bonds. Non-financial mainland entities were previously not allowed to issue CNH bond unless they were issued via an offshore vehicle or subsidiary. Meanwhile, Hong Kong, China's property developer Wharf Holdings plans to issue at least SGD100 million worth of bonds with tenors of 7 years and yield guidance at 4.3%-4.4%.

*Government bond yields fell last week for most tenors in the PRC, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, while yields rose for all tenors in the Republic of Korea and Singapore and for most tenors in Malaysia and Viet Nam. Yield movements were mixed in Hong Kong, China. Yield spreads between 2- and 10- year maturities widened in Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; and Singapore, while spreads narrowed in other emerging East Asian markets.