Asia's rich drive a $200-billion revival in complex equity notes

Core Insights - The revival of structured products in Asia is linked to a surge in equities driven by artificial intelligence, with a notable shift from US stocks to Chinese mega-caps like Alibaba and Tencent [1][21] - Issuance of structured products tied to Hong Kong and Singapore equities has surged 80% this year, exceeding $200 billion, marking a significant recovery in the market [21] - More than 60% of global sales of structured products in the first seven months of 2025 originated from Asia, primarily from China and Hong Kong [4][21] Structured Products Overview - Structured products generally offer lower maximum payouts than stocks but attract investors with regular fixed payments that often exceed bond yields [5][6] - Accumulators and fixed-coupon notes are particularly popular, with accumulators requiring investors to buy stocks at preset levels, which can lead to higher costs during market downturns [9][10][21] - Fixed-coupon notes linked to major Chinese companies, such as Alibaba, offer annualized coupons ranging from 10% to 20%, which is higher than those tracking indices [12][21] Market Dynamics - Alibaba shares have increased nearly 90% this year, contributing to a 26% rise in the Hang Seng Tech Index, indicating a strong recovery in the Asian market [13][21] - The proportion of equity-linked notes tracking Hong Kong-listed equities has risen to 30%-40% in 2025, up from about 20% in 2024, reflecting a shift in investor focus [13][21] - Wealthy investors are increasingly using leverage to amplify their bets, which can also magnify potential losses [16][21] Risk Management - The concentration of structured products on a limited number of stocks poses a risk, as highlighted by BNP Paribas, which is navigating this challenge amid a backdrop of market gains [17][21] - Historical events, such as the Lehman Brothers collapse and the Covid outbreak, serve as reminders of the risks associated with structured products [8][21]