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Background: Temporary sympathectomy by injection of bupivacaine at the site of the left stellate ganglion is used in the management of refractory angina at several UK centres. Although patients frequently report significant reduction in symptoms, efficacy has not been established by double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial (RCT).Objective: To investigate the efficacy of the procedure for the first time by a double-blind RCT.Methods: Consecutive patients referred to the authors’ National Health Service (NHS) angina centre who were candidates for temporary sympathectomy were invited to participate in a trial. A total of 65 patients were randomised to receive either bupivacaine or saline injections. Identical syringes were prepared remotely, blinding patients and staff from randomisation. Cardiac autonomic function was measured 3 hours pre- and post-injection using new heart rate variability (HRV) analyses. Angina episodes were recorded contemporaneously by patients in study diaries in the 7-day periods pre- and post-injection.Results: In 51 patients suitable for analysis, no significant differences between the active and placebo groups were found in patient-recorded frequency or intensity of angina episodes pre- and post-injection. However, across both groups combined, a significant difference was found in the frequency of angina episodes pre- and post-injection.Conclusion: The reduction in frequency of angina episodes produced by this procedure may not be due to drug pharmacology. It may be a placebo response or due to the mechanical effects of the injection of fluid. There is a need for further work using a larger patient cohort considering both mechanical and psychological factors.

The article reports on the issues facing banking industry in Vietnam. It highlights the difficulty of many of majority state-owned banks in the country to remain solvent after a business cycle that has affected Vietnam's economy over the past five years. It emphasizes the need of country's central bank to overcome its fear of foreign control and open the industry to international investors.

The article focuses on the new bank-ownership rules imposed by Indonesia's central bank and its effect on investments by foreign banks. Bank Indonesia has reduced the stake that can be acquired by a single foreign shareholder in a bank from 99 percent to 40 percent. This has led Singaporean bank DBS to withdraw from a merger and acquisition deal with Bank Danamon. The author expresses concern that the policy would drive off international capital that could help the country's banking sector.

This article reports on the economic and political impact of the election of Bank Indonesia governor Agus Martowardojo. One of his first tasks is to raise rates to keep rising prices under control. It is noted that Martowardojo should consider reduced economic growth and greater rupiah volatility as necessary prices to pay to ensure the recovery of the nation's economy.

The article discusses the success of bond markets in Asia in 2012. It says that the record bond issuance in the region is attributed to growing investor appetite for emerging market credits, capital-conscious banks' lackluster support for syndicated loans and a struggling global equities market. According to the author, new bond deals in Asia ex Japan raised 809 billion U.S. dollars between January and December 14, 2012.

The article explains concert pianist Clare Hammond's point of view regarding the audience's choice and attitude towards contemporary music and the techniques she uses to prepare a repertoire.

The article focuses on the involvement of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in the initial public offering (IPO) market. Topics discussed include the 15-month suspension of the country's A-share IPO market and the market regulator's implementation of timing, pricing, and allocation mechanisms that at times have stymied equity market development. The CSRC's decision to engage free-market forces in the IPO process and improve transparency is mentioned.

The article focuses on bonds issued by China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNooc), China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) and Sinopec, which prompted other Chinese borrowers to access the international bond markets. The success of the issuance was attributed to the low interest regime, the decision of American investors to purchase investment-grade Chinese stocks and interest in shorter- and longer-term debt. Bonds were alsp issued by companies from Indonesia and Hong Kong.

The article reports on developments in the international financial market. Chinese oil and gas producers, state-owned Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corp.(CNPC) hit the international bond market for multi-tranche financing during April 2013, taking advantage of low yields and strong investor demand. More activity were also recorded in the equity markets, with bonds priced in Singapore dollar registering a strong demand.

The article discusses the delays in Asian deals as talks in Cyprus on a controversial bank bailout emerged on March 16, 2013. News about the need for Cyprus' bank sector to secure a bailout has also caused a decline in secondary market prices. Authorities in Cyprus, the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund have finalised a bailout package to stabilize the banking system in Cyprus.

The article focuses on the decision of Korea Housing Finance Corp. (KHFC) to sell its 500 million dollar five-year covered bond issue on February 26, 2013, just months before a law that will open the covered bond market to Korean issuers. The company issued the deal at 100 basis points (bp) over U.S. Treasuries, about 10bp inside initial guidance yet still a premium of 9bp over the country's policy banks.

The article reports on the growth of the bond market in Thailand in September 2012. It reveals that bond issuance in Thailand capped a nine-month period in which more bonds have been priced in Asia than any corresponding year. Several Thai issuers, including Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank and Siam Commercial Bank, tapped the international bond market during the month. The growth of the Thai equity markets is also considered.

The article discusses the need for investors to consider risks involved in investing in corporate high yield bonds. It mentions continuous need of Asian firms for capital and growing practice of banks to purchase bonds for their wealthy clients. James Fielder of HSBC remarked on the involvement of Asian private banks in high yield bond deals. It also emphasizes that investors need to gather market knowledge before finalizing their investment decisions.

The article reports that Chinese bankers are dealing with the first debt defaults in 15 years. Topics discussed include the trust product launched by China Credit Trust with loans backed by Shanxi Zhenfu Energy Corp. and the first proper bond default which involved Shanghai Chaori Solar Energy Science & Technology. The adoption of more market-oriented policies by the central Chinese government and the impact of the defaults on investor confidence are mentioned.

The article discusses the global debt capital market reaction to the plans by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) to taper its quantitative easing program announced in August 2013. Activity in the global debt capital market has been quiet due to the Fed's plan. There were only 20 G3-currency deals completed by Asia ex-Japan issuers during the month, according to data provider Dealogic. The main issuers of the month were Korean corporates and banks.

The article presents information on the weakening of the Indonesia's currency, rupiah, in 2013. The rupiah has declined against the U.S. dollar following indications of the end of quantitative easing program of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Since then, outflows from Indonesia's domestic bond market have increased.

The article discusses the developments in the Asian high yield bonds market. The largest amount on record was set in January 2013 with a total of 11.11 billion U.S. dollars-worth of international sold in 28 deals. According to Dealogic, it surpassed by a factor of 75 times, the 148 million U.S. dollars issued in January 2012. Chinese borrowers supplied 62 percent of the issuance, equivalent to 6.86 billion U.S. dollars.

The article reports on the attempt of global investors to search for stability and yield in Asian bond markets. It highlights the top Asian brands that gained access to dollar and euro markets including China Petrochemical Corp.'s tranche deal, Hutchinson Whampoa's investment-grade debt, and Export-Import Bank of Korea's Samurai sale. It provides data on 2012 bookrunner league tables for G3/debt capital market and equity capital market in May 2012.

The article reports on the second international bond issuance from the Laos government that is awaiting approval from the Thai Ministry of Finance (MoF) and is expected to extend the yield curve in the second half of 2013. An official at the Laos MoF differentiates the second bond deal from the country's debut bond issuance. The official considers the sovereign bond as an alternative for investors to diversity their portfolio.

The article forecasts the environment for weaker high yield corporates in Asia to feel the recessionary pressure, while default rates among high yield companies will increase, according to banking firm Morgan Stanley. Viktor Hjort, head of Asia fixed income research at Morgan Stanley, discusses the twofold challenge to the Asian credit cycle. He explains the theory that higher funding costs and falling investment opportunities will reduce demand for credit and lead to lower bond market supply.

The article introduces a video of an interview with Bei Fu, credit analyst at ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P), about the outlook for China property bond supply in the second half of 2013 and the possibility of onshore issuance.

The article forecasts investors to choose to fundraise through international loans or domestic bonds despite the increase in Indian U.S.-dollar bond issuance from state-owned enterprises (SOE) in the second half of 2013. Market commentators raise the concern over the risk of a supply overhang and the weakening of the Indian rupee. Data shows the fundraising activities of SOEs iBharat Petroleum Corp., Rural Electrifications Corp. (REC), and Oil and Natural Gas Corp. since August 2013.

The article suggests the variation of anchor ratings for Tier II securities of Indian banks with high systemic importance as the Indian banking system transitions to Basel III capital rules, according to Fitch Ratings. Estimate by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicate the total capital required from the Indian banking system in line with Basel III rules. Two point of non-viability (PONV) trigger events are discussed for all non-common Tier I and Tier II capital instruments issued by banks.

The article forecasts Asian bonds to unlikely recover for another few weeks, with a longer-time frame for the high yield market, according to investors. Fixed income managers see potential opportunities for bond issuance in the higher end of the investment grade segment despite market volatility. A portfolio manager notes that high yield pricing is prohibitive for bond issuers as investment grade is likely to dominate the Asian primary market as a result of pricing gap.

The article predicts the declining foreign exchange (FX) cover ratios of the Indonesian rupiah, Indian rupee, Malaysian ringgit and Thai baht to result to more weakness , according to banking firm HSBC. HSBC Asian currency research head Paul Mackel attributes the falling FX cover of the four Asian emerging market currencies to their rising external liabilities, rapid capital inflows and worsening current account positions. He raises concern over de-leveraging and the credit trade cycle.

The article reports on the swap arrangement between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and domestic banks that is being considered in a bid to augment the central bank's foreign exchange (FX) reserves and boost rupee liquidity onshore. A regulation has been earlier imposed by the RBI to allow banks to offer higher rates on non-resident external (NRE) rupee deposits. Economist Siddharta Sanyal sees the swap arrangement as a way to increase U.S. dollar inflows from non-resident Indians (NRI).