They're "thirsty" for those three little letters.

Almost 60,416 people in the Asia-Pacific region will take a Chartered Financial Analyst exam this month, up by almost 4,000, or 7%, over last year, according to enrollment data released by the CFA Institute, a nonprofit group that administers the certification. In comparison, 52,131 candidates signed up in the Americas, roughly the same amount as last year.

"In Asia in particular, we've just seen a thirst for education and credentials," said Tom Robinson, managing director of education for the group. "There's a strong interest there in adding qualifications to a resume."

In related news, good luck to those sitting for Levels I, II, or III on Saturday and no pressure about having potentially thrown away the last 3-4 months of your life should you fail. It's about the journey, not the designation.

Asia CFA Registrations Surge [FINS]