India faces mass default and restructuring as devaluation looms

For the first time, a mainland Chinese company has defaulted on its bonds. SunTech Power Holdings has been clinging on by its teeth but after failing to repay $541mm of notes due on March 15th - and following four consecutive quarters of losses through the first quarter of 2012 and since then having failed to report quarterly earnings - owed to Chinese domestic lenders, the firm is restructuring.

As the European sovereign debt crisis enters its fourth year, there are growing concerns that Spain, the fourth-largest economy in the euro area, could collapse under the weight of its debt and trigger a break-up of the euro zone.  

Michael Johnston submits:Since the economic recovery began, many investors have looked to Asia to drive growth and stimulate global demand. China has grabbed most of the headlines, as tremendous growth in the world’s most populous nation has essentially pulled this emerging market into a tie with Japan as the world’s second-largest economy.

Surging nominal imports and a miss for exports just about sums up perfectly just how the reality of Abenomics is crushing the real economy as the market goes from strength to strength on the hope that recovery is just around the corner. For the 28th month in a row Japan trade deficit has dropped YoY and its 12-month average is now at its worst ever. Energy costs are driving up imports (and adjusted for the devaluation in the JPY, the data is simply horrendous. Of course, there are green shoots - CPI is not deflating as fast as it was...

It might seem a strange that newly re-elected President Barack Obama has chosen this moment to jet off to Asia. After all, he’s left a mess of problems back home. The White House is in the midst of tense negotiations with Republican Congressmen over a budget compromise to avoid the looming “fiscal cliff.” The nation is still smarting from a long and divisive election. And even in the realm of foreign policy, Asia doesn’t seem to be the priority right now, with a conflict escalating between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - HSBC is launching its first offshore yuan bond,

Singapore is set to overtake Las Vegas as the world's second-largest gambling hub this year, a US gaming industry head said Tuesday, as Asia cements its place as a major betting market.Singapore has emerged as Asia's hottest new gambling destination with a revamped cityscape and billions of dollars pouring into the economy, after the opening of two resort casinos in 2010.The strong growth came after Macau -- the world's biggest gaming hub -- leapfrogged Las Vegas in gaming revenue and continues to post record-breaking growth, thanks to burgeoning numbers of wealthy Asians.