Goldman Sachs is set to pass the half-way point of the year as the top investment bank in China and Hong Kong, and its position could be strengthened further if it is named as one of the lead underwriters on the $10bn (€7.2bn) public offering of an Asian life insurer this week.

The US banking giant has already earned $81m in fees in the Greater China region this year, 23% more than at this 12 months ago, according to data provider Thomson Reuters. Greater China includes Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as mainland China.