◆ AFT's Antoine Deruennes says 'clear message' showed demand for 30 year ◆ Speedy execution before US employment data ◆ Green OAT syndication next

◆ Refi deal came as issuer prepares IPO ◆ Deal extends the insurer's tier two curve by 10 years ◆ 'Strong bid' for Iberian FIG credit, says rival banker

◆ Portuguese utility firm powers up EuGB curve ◆ Sub-benchmark trade's book proves sticky ◆ Deal lands through fair value

◆ €500m 4NC3 EuGB deal priced inside fair value ◆ Greenium helps tighten spreads amid strong demand ◆ Landmark trade cements bank's ESG leadership, says treasurer

◆ Austrian lender completes its tightest unsecured debt since the start of war in Ukraine… ◆ …as BPM achieves its lowest ever senior spread ◆ High attrition function of premium and outright spread

◆ Issuer finds window between political volatility and supply onslaught ◆ Deal sets record low spread for callable sterling senior bail-in debt ◆ Investors remain on board despite tight price

Central banks have become integral to the fight against climate change in financial markets. Participants now expect them to wield their immense influence through many avenues of their work — economic analysis, metrics, supervision, investment and even monetary policy.

While the initial focus of sustainable finance efforts was largely on environmental action, social factors have grown increasingly prominent in recent years — underscored by the establishment of the Social Bond Principles in 2017. Subsequently, Covid and racial tensions in the US have each highlighted social disparities that are leading issuers and investors to treat diversity and inclusion as key parameters too.

Russian IPOs have long been beset by the political turmoil that surrounds their country’s relationship with the US. Many a deal has been sunk by US-Russia tension, particularly when sanctions are imposed by the former.

Is finance about to break out of the cocoon in which it has pupated for decades, and become a completely different life form?

The European Commission signalled this week that it would extend regulation into many more aspects of sustainable finance, driving an agenda that could change the role of capital markets in society. But although responsible investing experts welcomed it, the complex package of at least 30 measures is likely to provoke a wide variety of reactions, from enthusiastic support to complaints that it is too slow and unambitious, to outright opposition. Jon Hay reports.

How to respond to climate change and environmental sustainability were “of central importance” in the European Central Bank’s review of its monetary policy framework, the ECB said on Thursday as it published the results of the long-awaited review. It has designed a detailed roadmap for incorporating climate considerations across its monetary policy activities, including corporate bond purchases — but environmentalists are likely to be disappointed with the slow pace of reform.

Benin showed Islamic issuance is a viable market for sub-Saharan African sovereigns

Sovereign left little, if anything, on the table for investors

Observers have questioned why the country is issuing debt at this price

Deal will bring fourth major multilateral development bank to the market

The bank's regular appearances in primary markets stopped after Russia invaded Ukraine

The seven year dollar bond's yield will likely be one of the highest in CEEMEA in the last few years

Craig Coben examines whether it is true that no good deed goes unpunished

Investors and bankers grapple with 24% fall in Bitcoin since deal was rated

Investment banking travel was a relentless grind, not gold card access to global glamour

Eight banks provided loan facility to company

Vaccine bond programme to issue $1.5bn this year but needs new pledges

First deal of its kind more than 1.5 times subscribed