Acrostics Asia has added Research Corner, which pulls research and commentaries from the region that can help readers to make sense of the evolving trends.
The February 2026 edition highlights insights across Asian currencies, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mongolia and India as well as the Basel Committee’s analysis of synthetic risk transfers.
🔸 Asia FX Talk - What if oil prices spike further? Implications of Iran conflict by Michael Wan
For Asia FX, a prolonged and escalating conflict with sustained oil price spikes will weigh on Asian currencies given that most in our region are net oil importers.
🔸 The ART of the bad deal by Riandy Laksono
In a piece published on The Jakarta Post, Riandy Laksono calculated the effective tariff rates for the Indonesia-US trade deal (ART) and compared it with doing nothing (facing section 122 tariff with exemption). The conclusion is that doing nothing is still better.
🔸 Indonesia Sovereign Rating by Aryo Perbongso’s team
Aryo Perbongso shared the key takeaways from his team’s meetings to discuss Indonesia’s sovereign rating:
“The binding issue is fiscal affordability, because Indonesia’s revenue/GDP is structurally low versus BBB peers and its interest-to-revenue burden is unusually high, making the sovereign more vulnerable to rate shocks and risk-premium spikes.”
“Danantara debt consolidation is not the base case, but governance weaknesses could still create material contingent liabilities, so transparency on funding plans, safeguards, and guarantees is a critical watchpoint.”
🔸 Sluggish Indonesia market clouds aviation outlook for Southeast Asia by Brendan Sobie for CNA
A large contraction in domestic air travel within Indonesia will impact the regional outlook in Southeast Asia, aviation analyst Brendan Sobie wrote for CNA.
🔸 Vietnam after the 14th Party Congress: A new tenure with higher stakes by Linh Nguyen
Vietnam remains open for business after the 14th Party Congress. But the system now moves faster, with less tolerance for mistakes. The opportunity remains. The risk is whether execution and institutional capacity can keep pace.
🔸 Fresh range of offshore loan rules – Vietnam by VTN and Partners
The State Bank of Vietnam issued a new circular that amends one of the main regulations governing how Vietnamese enterprises borrow from offshore lenders and manage those debts. This article walks through what actually changed, compares the old and new rules, and looks at what it means for structuring offshore financing into Vietnam.
🔸 Inside Tsetsens Mining and Energy’s US$300 Million Landmark Bond by Capital Markets Mongolia
This transaction extends beyond a single issuer’s capital raise. It demonstrates that non-traditional and first-time issuers can successfully access international markets, thereby diversifying funding sources and expanding the structural framework of Mongolia’s private infrastructure financing model.
🔸 New route for offshore lenders through the liberalization of India’s ECB framework by A&O Shearman
On 16 February 2026, the Reserve Bank of India notified amendments to the existing External Commercial Borrowings regulations which are effective immediately and applicable to new borrowings going forward. The Amended Regulations provide significant opportunities for the leveraged finance market and offshore to onshore structures.
🔸 Basel Committee publishes analysis of synthetic risk transfers
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published a report on synthetic risk transfer (SRT) transactions. The economic importance of SRT markets has grown rapidly over the last decade and they have become an important source of capital relief for corporate credit risk.