Asia-Pac IPOs down

HONG KONG: New share issues from Asia-Pacific outside of Japan fell nearly 29% in the first half of 2003, but they are expected to gather pace in the second half as investor fears over SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) fade and travel restrictions on investment bankers are lifted. 

Companies in Asia-Pacific outside of Japan raised US$5bil through initial public offerings (IPOs) in the first half of the year against US$7bil in the same period in 2002, according to data from Thomson Financial.