The Philippines' EastWest Bank launched on Monday a public offering of its first Basel III-compliant Tier 2 issue, seeking to raise up to 5 billion pesos ($114 million) to support growth plans, IFR reported.

Philippine lenders can have greater real estate exposure as long as they have enough capital buffers to stem risks identified in an industry stress test, the central bank said, as it issued new rules aimed at reducing risks arising from a growing property market.

Foreign direct investment in Indonesia in the second quarter is expected to be 15 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a 9.8 percent increase in January to March, the investment chief said on Wednesday.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is prepared to invest up to 1.25 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in Alitalia over the next four years under a possible tie-up between the two carriers, Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi said on Wednesday.

An impending bond issue by Abu Dhabi-based telecommunications firm Etisalat may not only be the region's largest deal so far this year, but also set a record for tight pricing as the Gulf becomes more of a mainstream investment destination.

Etisalat, the Abu Dhabi-based telecom firm, has added four banks to the list of bookrunners for its potential debut bond, which could include dollar and euro-denominated paper of up to 12 years duration, banking sources said on Monday.

Israel's Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank said on Wednesday it expects to raise 1.2 billion shekels ($344.9 million) in a bond offering to institutional investors and the public.

Indian mobile phone operator Idea Cellular Ltd plans to launch a share sale to raise as much as $500 million on Thursday to part fund its capital expenditure including a purchase of mobile radiowaves, three people involved in the deal said.

AOL Inc said on Sunday it is starting a programme in Israel to assist start-ups, and that it will invest at least $100,000 in as many as 10 projects at a time.