Asian companies have sold more equity in the capital markets in the past five weeks than during any start to the year since records began, driving hopes of a revival in the global initial public offering market this year.
In the Asia-Pacific region excluding Japan, equity capital market volumes stand at $24.6bn so far in 2013, almost four times the $6.4bn raised in the same period last year and the strongest since at least 1995, according to Dealogic.
The strong start to the year comes as the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index has risen steadily in recent months, up nearly 15 per cent from September on the back of central bank actions and improving market sentiment.