Americas

7-Eleven capitalised on huge investor demand to issue its first dollar bond this week, printing the largest US corporate deal of the year so far.

Sustainable bond issuance has made its strongest start to the year ever, thrusting the market towards what most observers believe will be a year when many records will be broken — especially in north and south America, where environmental and social consciousness is rising. Jon Hay, Mike Turner and Oliver West report.

HSBC appoints two within AIBC — Credit Suisse Asset Management hires head of origination in direct lending — Richard Luddington joins Rothschild

US equity markets suffered their worst single day since October on Wednesday, as equity investors reacted to growing concerns over stock valuations and fears of Covid-19 vaccine disappointment. Equity capital markets bankers hope that investor sentiment will hold for new deals, even if global markets take a turn for the worse. Sam Kerr reports.

GlobalCapital is delighted to announce the nominees for this year’s Americas Derivatives Awards.

The GameStop short squeeze has cost institutional investors billions. I’ll feel more sympathy if they’d occasionally pay for their drinks.

Casino operator Genting New York priced a $525m bond on Wednesday.

Colombian state-owned oil and gas company Ecopetrol said it would issue new debt and equity to fund a proposed takeover of the government’s 51.41% stake in conglomerate ISA (Interconexión Eléctria), should the finance ministry accept its offer.

Malaysia-based Catcha Group is floating a southeast Asia-focused special purpose acquisition company (Spac) on the New York Stock Exchange.

Latin American development bank CAF (Corporación Andina de Fomento) will pick either a five or seven-year maturity this week as it prepares its first benchmark in euros since May 2020.

Argentine oil and gas company YPF’s bonds rallied on Tuesday as markets acknowledged several improvements to terms on the company’s attempt to exchange all of its $6.228bn international bonds for new notes. But analysts were still undecided as to whether the amended offer would be enough for YPF to meet the necessary acceptance thresholds.

Mexican financing and leasing company Unifin Financiera returned to bond markets on Monday for the first time in 18 months, garnering sufficient demand to push the yield on its new $400m eight year into single digits.