The annual growth of bond issuances in Asia over the last two decades exceeds 20% p.a., five times the global average (International Capital Market Association, March 2025). Most of this growth has been led by China, with growing issuance volumes for both bank and non-bank corporations. In addition to the rapid regional growth in fixed income markets, the prevalence of bonds denominated in foreign currencies (e.g., RMB) and the appearance of new bond types, e.g., Green bonds and Social bonds, point to a pressing need for investment bankers, portfolio managers, financial analysts, and risk managers to strengthen their technical capabilities to understand and effectively use fixed income instruments in real-world scenarios. This need is further compounded by an increasingly volatile global economy, not least due to international trade wars and tariff uncertainties.

This comprehensive two-day course equips participants with an understanding of fixed income analytics and a knowledge of advanced strategies to construct and manage fixed income portfolios whilst hedging risks with confidence. Participants will explore the strategic applications of various bond types, understand the mechanics of bond pricing, bond yields, and bond duration, and learn how to interpret credit ratings and economic indicators for portfolio decision-making. The course also explains how derivatives such as using interest rate swaps, options, credit default swaps (CDS) and Total Return Swaps (TRS) are applied to manage interest rate and credit risks to achieve target portfolio risk-adjusted returns.

The course is highly interactive and makes widespread use of illustrations and numerical examples to aid understanding. It also provides ample opportunity for delegates to ask questions and gain important knowledge to implement actionable insights to effectively manage fixed income portfolios.

• Learning Objectives & Takeaways:
  • Develop a strong foundation in fixed income analytics, including pricing, yield and duration analysis.
  • Interpret key market indicators, including the yield curve, credit ratings, and macroeconomic variables to make informed investment and capital raising decisions.
  • Gain hands-on experience in using fixed income derivatives for interest rate and credit risk hedging requirements, including immunizing bond portfolios against interest rate risk.