Hanoi (VNA) ♔- Vietnam’s currency bond market grew 5.1% quarter-on-quarter to reach 2,626.1 trillion VND (111.9 billion USD) at the end of March.

According to the Asia Bond Monitor report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on June 21, growth can be attributed to expansions in both the government and corporate bond segments amid increased issuance during the quarter. 

Corporate bond market growth rebounded as the government eased regulations, leading to the resurgence of issuance during the quarter. 

🗹 At the end of March, Vietnam's local currency bond market remained dominated by Treasury and other government bonds, which together accounted for 67.8% of the total bonds outstanding, while a 28% share was attributable to corporate bonds and a 4.2% share was attributable to central bank securities.

Financial institutions and property firms are the largest issuers of corporate bonds in Viet Nam's local currency corporate bond market, accounting for 53.8% and 25.5%, respectively, of the total corporate bond stock at the end of March.

Bond yields in emerging East Asia declined from March to May amid easing inflationary pressure in the region and slower monetary tightening in the United States, according to the report.

✃ Financial conditions in the region remained largely stable, even amid lingering uncertainty about the US Federal Reserve’s monetary stance and looming risks in the banking sector of major advanced economies. Equity markets declined and local currencies weakened slightly against the US dollar between 1 March and 2 June, while risk premiums narrowed.  

“Most of the region’s central banks have slowed their rate hikes, and the banking sector turmoil in the US and Europe has had limited impact on regional financial markets so far,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. “However, in the US, concern over financial stability and inflation is causing uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s monetary stance. Financial conditions in the region may continue to be affected by this uncertainty.”

Emerging East Asia comprises member economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); the People’s Republic of China (PRC); Hong Kong (China); and the Republic of Korea.

ꦛ The region’s local currency bond stock grew 9.1% from a year earlier to $23.8 trillion at the end of March. The increase was largely driven by governments frontloading debt issuance to finance programs to support economic recovery. Corporate bond issuance remained moderate, partly due to higher interest rates. 

Growth in the sustainable bond market in emerging East Asia plus Japan 🔯moderated to 5.9% from the previous quarter, with total sustainable bond stock reaching $633.9 billion at the end of March.

The ASEAN+3 region remains the second-largest sustainable bond market in the world, even as it needs more local currency and long-term financing. Green bonds, local currency financing, and private sector issuance dominated sustainable bond issuance in the region.

The latest issue of Asia Bond Monitor🌠 has a special section discussing the influence of climate risk awareness on investors’ trading decisions. The section notes that governments’ climate commitments can shape investors’ risk appetite and investment behavior. 

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region./.