Covered Bonds

The relative value of covered bonds compared to sovereign bonds has improved, but the pace of European Central Bank buying has not slackened, as had been widely hoped. And even though the ECB has marginally scaled back primary market purchases this year compared to last, it remains an aggressive secondary market buyer.

The relative value of covered bonds compared to sovereign bonds has improved, but the pace of European Central Bank buying has not slackened, as had been widely hoped. And even though the ECB has marginally scaled back primary market purchases this year compared to last, it remains an aggressive secondary market buyer.

Moody’s said on Thursday that, should Greece leave the euro, investors in Greek covered bonds would still likely receive payments in euros. Given that there are barely any Greek covered bonds held by third party investors, and the fact that the research is predicated on Grexit, the discussion is largely theoretical.

A triumphant first Grüner Pfandbrief has snapped the covered bond market out of its recent decline, bringing new buyers to a product that many investors abandoned this year as the European Central Bank’s purchases crowded them out, writes Bill Thornhill.

Northern Rock Asset Management (NRAM) set the early redemption price for its €2bn 3.875% November 2020s. It is looking to buy back all the notes with a tender offer and consent solicitation and will hold a meeting next week.

A triumphant first Grüner Pfandbrief has snapped the covered bond market out of its recent decline, bringing new buyers to a product that many investors abandoned this year as the European Central Bank’s purchases crowded them out, writes Bill Thornhill.

BNP Paribas made an opportunistic move to price the tightest ever 10 year from a French bank on Tuesday. It was also the first 10 year covered bond issued in more than a month.

Bank of Ireland paid a decent 3bp-4bp new issue premium for its seven year covered bond on Tuesday. Despite that, it was the issuer’s least subscribed deal since 2012.

Northern Rock Asset Management (NRAM) will repurchase its €2bn 3.875% November 2020s at 121.494.

The outlook for peripheral covered bonds is still positive, and despite the disappointing result achieved by Bank of Ireland on Wednesday, bankers expect further supply.

Draft Swedish regulation, requiring compulsory repayment of mortgage loans until the loan to value ratio gets below 50%, has been dropped. However, lending practices had already become stricter, so dropping the requirement changes little, said LBBW research on Thursday.

Bank of Ireland has priced the third covered bond from Ireland this year and, in contrast to BNP Paribas which issued a 10 year deal on Tuesday, it paid a decent 3bp-4bp new issue premium for the seven year offering. Despite that, it was the issuer's least subscribed deal since 2012.