China

Move to open ICBC Mumbai branch follows China’s nod for SBI Shanghai to lend in Renminbi.

BEA became the first locally-incorporated foreign bank to open a branch in Hebei Province with its Shijiazhuang branch.

Economists Zhou Qiren, Xia Bin and Li Daokui are expected to bring in hawkish view.

Careful choice of projects last year can make performance this year better than peers.

Lender keen to focus business on natural resources trade, infrastructure financing and structure asset finance industries.

Source says lender’s board may place $6bln worth of shares and rights issue to meet target.

Assistance from Austrade and New South Wales government paved way to lender's Sydney office opening.

Moynihan revealed few detail on lender's move that includes obtaining securities license over next several years.

Move part of HSBC's plans to invest in China to capitalise on country’s 10.7% economic growth.

Despite forecast of 20% rise in 2010 loans, NPL and other problem loans ratio are expected to remain below 10% for the next two years.

BEA has opened a third "cross-location" sub-branch in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. This is made possible under the liberalisation measures of Supplement VI to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. The other two sub-branches are located in the cities of Foshan and Zhongshan.

China is premiere destination as US lender broadens business abroad while local operations lag behind rivals.

Government wary that uncontrolled lending can increase bad loans and form asset bubbles.

China targets cutting lending by $310bln prompting smaller banks to raise capital to boost adequacy ratio.

Regulator favors raising capital by rights offering while discouraging private placements and public share sales.

Lackluster performance of banks after two years of partnership forced CDB's board to review relationship.