CREDIT Suisse Group AG expects investment banking activity in Asia to pick up as Chinese mainland stock listings shift to Hong Kong from the United States, according to the bank’s regional chief Helman Sitohang.

Despite the slowdown in dealmaking in the last couple of weeks, the deal pipeline in Hong Kong and the region are “building up very nicely,” Sitohang said yesterday.

“I have been a banker in the region for 30 years now. One thing I know for sure is the region is very resilient,” Sitohang said. “We go through some cycles but the medium to longer term is always up.”

Chinese listings in the United States have almost come to a halt after the country pledged to write new rules for firms going public outside the mainland, and after U.S. regulators suspended new initial public offerings (IPOs) from companies based on the Chinese mainland until they increase disclosures over potential risks.

“We clearly see the pipeline building up for listings in Hong Kong so we will see activity picking up again,” he said.

Credit Suisse’s Asia unit posted a record nine-month profit this year, and the region accounts for 19 percent of global revenue, said Sitohang, the bank’s chief executive officer for Asia-Pacific. (SD-Agencies)