CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK

Agricultural Bank of China's $22 billion IPO made a lackluster debut in Shanghai, underscoring the challenges ahead for China's markets as other big banks look to tap investors for billions of dollars in funds.

Agricultural Bank of China rose only marginally in the first minutes of its historic debut in Shanghai on Thursday, underscoring the difficult time that may lie ahead for a market that will be asked to absorb more big fundraisings by banks.

Agricultural Bank of China priced its Hong Kong and Shanghai dual listing on Tuesday, a deal that would break all IPO records by raising more than $22 billion when adding in over-allotment shares.

Agricultural Bank of China, the country's No.3 bank by assets, has closed the books on its dual Hong Kong and Shanghai share sale and could break all IPO records by raising more than $22 billion.

Bank of China said its bid to raise up to $8.9 billion should give it enough capital for the next three years, seeking to assure markets its second major fund-raising this year will mend its stretched balance sheet for the foreseeable future.

The Agricultural Bank of China is seeking to raise over $23 billion by listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai, in what would be the world's biggest IPO, as China's banks shore up their capital base after a lending spree.

The Agricultural Bank of China is seeking to raise more than $23 billion through a dual Hong Kong and Shanghai listing, according to documents on Monday, putting it on course for the world's biggest IPO.

Agricultural Bank of China may struggle to get the kind of valuation it wants as it gears up to launch the world's biggest IPO into a market that has slumped by a fifth in just six weeks.

Bank of America Corp is keen to expand in China, Chief Executive Brian Moynihan said on Wednesday.

Bank of America Corp Chief Executive Brian Moynihan is making his first trip to China this week as the U.S. lender pushes to catch up with rivals in the world's fastest-growing economy, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

Fred Hu is stepping down as a partner of Goldman Sachs, according to an internal memo, as sources said he plans to launch a new private equity fund.

Chinese banks issued net new yuan loans of nearly 1.6 trillion yuan ($234.4 billion) in January, the Economic Information Daily reported on Monday, pointing to a much slower pace of lending in the last 10 days of the month.

* WHAT: China's Q4 GDP growth* WHEN: Jan 21

AgBank, China's No. 3 lender by assets, is likely to make its multibillion dollar IPO only in the second half of 2010 or even later, as it tries to sort out its bad loans and waits out an expected round of capital raising by other Chinese lenders, sources said on Tuesday.

Dutch ING, which is splitting up its bank and insurance arms, will sell its stake in Chinese insurer Antai to China Construction Bank (CCB) as part of its ongoing restructuring programme.

China's largest pharmaceutical products distributor, Sinopharm Group Co Ltd, is set to raise up to HK$8.73 billion ($1.13 billion) in an initial public offering of shares in Hong Kong, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters on Friday.

American International Group, seeking to raise cash to repay around $180 billion in bail-out loans, has agreed to sell its Hong Kong consumer finance and India-based IT services units.

China Investment Corporation (CIC), the nation's sovereign wealth fund, reaped the benefits of investing cautiously during the global financial crisis after it reported a negative 2.1% return on its global portfolio for 2008, ChinaDaily reported on Friday.

Bank of America Corp plans to set up a wholly owned subsidiary in China to expand in the world's fastest-growing major economy, people briefed on the plan said.

Stocks in Hong Kong and Taiwan rose on Thursday, bolstered by bets China's recovery will continue, while the U.S. dollar recovered from a three-week low against the euro ahead of the latest U.S. labor market report.

Bank of America Corp, hoping to repay $45 billion of government money, is less likely to raise the funds by selling its big stake in BlackRock Inc after the asset manager buys Barclays Global Investors, analysts said.