Note: Friday (1 May 2026) is a Labour Day holiday in Singapore so there won’t be a daily roundup.
Asia Roundup
Asia’s Bond Markets Shake Off War Angst with Record Local Issuance
The Middle East war has not slowed Asia’s local currency bond markets, with Hong Kong and Australian dollar issuance hitting record highs so far in 2026 as investors and companies look to accelerate a shift away from US dollar debt deals, Reuters reported.
Hong Kong dollar bond proceeds this year climbed nearly 17% to $14.8 billion, according to LSEG data, the strongest ever start to the year. Australian dollar bonds year to date reached A$143 billion, up almost 30%, and also a record, according to Dealogic.
AirTrunk to Invest $3 billion in Two New Malaysian Data Centres
AirTrunk plans to invest MYR 12 billion (USD 3 billion) to develop two new data centres in Malaysia, according to its press release.
The new data centres in Johor Bahru will have a combined capacity of more than 280 megawatts (MW) and will be located close to AirTrunk’s two existing data campuses.
In total, the four data campuses will have more than 700 MW of capacity and bring AirTrunk’s total committed investment in Malaysia to around MYR 27 billion (USD 6.8 billion), according to the press release.
Vanke State Backer Books $5.5 Billion Loss, Most in Two Decades
China Vanke’s state-owned backer recorded its biggest annual loss in two decades, driven largely by its investments in the embattled developer, Bloomberg reported.
Shenzhen Metro Group posted a CNY 37.5 billion (USD 5.5 billion) loss attributable to shareholders last year, according to a filing by the firm. It marks the company’s biggest annual loss since at least 2006, based on its annual reports.
Indonesia Roundup
Indonesian Corruption Watchdog Flags Price Gaps, Budget Inconsistencies in Free Meals Program
The Indonesian government’s free nutritious meal program has come under renewed scrutiny over alleged irregularities, including price markups in facility construction and ingredient procurement, The Straits Times reported, citing the Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW).
Sritex Bosses’ Lawyer Says Criminalizing His Clients Will Cause Bigger State Losses
A lawyer representing the bosses of bankrupt Indonesian textile company Sri Rejeki Isman (Sritex), Hotman Paris, argued that criminalizing his clients will cause even bigger state losses, Kompas reported.
If the Attorney-General’s Office (AGO)’s lawsuit against Iwan Setiawan Lukminto and Iwan Kurniawan Lukminto were granted, the state-owned banks would lose their rights to file claims over the company’s assets because that would be a double claim, Hotman reportedly said at the corruption trial.
Acrostics Asia is an independent credit intelligence provider that delivers forward-looking insights across Asian sovereigns, private credit and restructurings.