Americas

Chilean savings and loans co-operative Coopeuch has diversified further its sources of funding by becoming the first triple-B rated borrower from Chile to issue in Asian bond markets.

Netflix has returned to the high yield market once again this week with a $2bn offering to fund its ever-increasing spend on its original films and TV shows. But instead of issuing high coupon debt, the company would have done better to look at a convert.

BlackRock has launched a suite of new investment products designed to allow investors to build a portfolio of ESG investments with six new exchange-traded funds.

Venezuelan state-owned oil giant PDVSA is likely to make a principal payment on its amortising 2020s due later this week as all evidence suggests the company is desperate to keep hold of the US refinery that serves as collateral for the bond, according to Torino Capital.

South American development bank Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) could turn to the public bond markets to begin its pre-funding for 2019, having issued its largest ever private placement last week to bring its 2018 financing programme close to completion.

Secondary market performance on the slew of Latin American new issues priced on Thursday was mostly underwhelming as Chilean power company Empresa Eléctrica Cochrane confirmed it was postponing a proposed bond issuance.

Multilateral development banks are increasingly seeking creative ways to strengthen their arms by getting private capital to invest alongside them, magnifying their efforts. The International Finance Corp has long been one of the most active in this field, and thanks to a fund it launched five years ago, it last year achieved a co-investment ratio of over 100%.

The US Treasury declined to name China a currency manipulator in its latest report this week, contrary to expectations. But the last minute save did not prevent the renminbi from moving closer to the line in the sand with an exchange rate of seven per dollar.

Niu Technologies, China's leading maker of electric scooters, dragged its Nasdaq IPO over the line on Thursday after cutting the number of shares on offer and pricing almost 30% below the original marketing range.

Three Latin American companies managed to raise dollar bonds on Thursday in the face of challenging market conditions, but of the five that completed roadshows on Wednesday, one was left evaluating feedback, having announced guidance, and the other had not appeared.

Panama came from nowhere to lead a slew of Latin American credits marching to raise bond funding on Thursday, but the weight of supply coupled with a tricky trading session meant that results were as up and down as the recent market conditions.

Transportadora de Gas Internacional (TGI), the Colombian gas pipeline operator, ventured into bond markets six months after an initial roadshow on Wednesday with a new 10 year dollar bond.