Loan volumes, as tracked by Thomson Reuters, were raised thanks to a boost in mergers and acquisitions-related activity in the first three quarters of 2016.In this period, loan volumes surged to US$41 billion to US$49 billion from the US$35 billion in loans that were closed in the comparable period a year ago.Some Asia-Pacific regional themes identified by Thomson Reuters are: Mergers and acquisition lending accounted for more than 15 per cent of the total Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) loan volume, and the nine-month volume has already surpassed 2015's full year total of US$48 billion. Hong Kong accounted for more than 39 per cent of this number, with China and Australia taking 27 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. Chinese companies were heavily involved in the region's M&A deals. Nevertheless, overall loan volumes for the region have declined this year: on Thomson Reuters' analysis, between January and September 2016, the Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) loan market closed 925 deals, with a volume of US$334 billion. This was a decline of 8.7 per cent, compared to the same time last year. Loans carrying a five-year tenor continue to be the most popular choice in the region. By the end of September 2016, 26.3 per cent of loans closed in APAC ex-Japan carried a five year tenor, and 16.8 per cent of loans carried a three year tenor.  Close to a quarter (24 per cent) of the loans in the region carried a tenor of nine years or more. Refinancing accounted for 31.6 per cent of loans closed in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan), reaching US$105.8 billion year-to-date. Corporate borrowers in Australia and New Zealand, and their bankers, closed 123 deals with a total volume of almost US$47 billion. Among these deals, Australian logistics operator Asciano Finance sealed the largest loan in Australasia in 3Q16. Proceeds from the A$3.95 billion loan will be used to finance Global Infrastructure Partners' acquisition of Asciano's rail assets.All four Australian majors are among the top 20 bookrunners in Thomson Reuters' regional loan league table. In a list that includes seven Chinese banks (including the top three bookrunners), ANZ has moved up one spot from last quarter, to a creditable number four (60 deals, involving US$10.7 billion in loans), well ahead of NAB at number eight (31 deals, US$8.1 billion), with CBA and Westpac at 12 and 13, respectively.