Capital Market Integration in South Asia ― Realizing the Saarc Opportunity

The economic opportunities set to unfold in South Asia should translate into a financial story. The objective of this book is to discuss potential Capital Market Products/Activities which can create closer inter-linkage of the South Asian capital markets, and help local/global investors benefit from this economic opportunity. While some ideas may be implementable now; others may be implementable in the future as the regional markets mature further.

The purpose of this book is to show retail and institutional investor interest in this combined high-growth region by offering scope for yield, diversification and risk mitigation, maximize upside from multiple growth markets and minimize downside through low-correlation constituents; reduce information opacity in pricing; build product portfolios of smaller markets; provide access to multiple products to generate incremental volume/assets; access to a broader set of investors thus helping in valuation, liquidity and low latency for cross-listings; provide access to a diverse sectors; etc. A core focus across the theme is on how to address the challenges towards deepening the awareness and acceptability of regional economies. Only when this happens, will the asset flows increase into the regional market products, and that scale-up would aid viability for the products.

• Presents unconventional ideas for converting SAARC’s unique opportunities into ideas for capital markets while addressing the socio-economic issue at the same time
• Offers a unique perspective on how the region’s economic opportunities can be translated into actual products
• Includes numerous charts and figures about South Asia’s economic state, financial opportunities and projected growth