In Focus

Chinese banks are eager to make acquisitions abroad, but may not have the managerial capability to run major European banks.

That is compared to the 34.2% profit growth in the first semester of 2011.

Hana Bank, the banking unit of South Korea's Hana Financial Group, will introduce South Korean-style private banking in China this month.

China did not hesitate to use its clout in the financial sector to voice out protests over the diplomatic row with Japan concerning the Senkaku Islands.

Hong Kong banks will have to turn to local fund-raising strategies to meet Basel III’s tougher liquidity requirements.

Malaysia’s Islamic banks accounted for 24.2% of Malaysia’s total banking industry assets during the first seven months of 2012.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Vietnam's credit rating on growing concerns over its weakening banks and its rapidly cooling economy.

The Philippines’ 38 universal and commercial banks reported net earnings of US$1.3 billion in the first six months despite growing turmoil in world financial markets.

The recent reduction in bank's reserve ratios has increased consumer financing by India's largest banks.

China has released its 12th Five-Year Plan for the Development and Reform of the Financial Industry it hopes will promote the continued healthy development of its battered financial industry.

Thai banks are hopeful that they would get a sizable share of business in Myanmar, as the latter liberalises its financial sector.

ICICI Bank Ltd, India's largest private sector bank, has turned to using the renminbi to tap Asia's rich bond market.

China's second largest bank expects to complete an M&A this year and will accelerate its foreign expansion in succeeding years.

Dangerously high levels of corporate debt and a continuing economic deceleration make it imperative that China implement urgent financial sector reforms.

The Government of Vietnam will take drastic actions in dealing with violations in the banking sector.

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation is supporting separate bills pending in the Philippine Congress that will permit foreign ownership of rural banks.