Americas

Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp has blown open the equity-linked market with the launch of a $5bn bond exchangeable into shares of Alibaba Group Holdings, part of a planned $7.9bn sell-down in the e-commerce giant’s stock.

The Province of Manitoba on Tuesday sold its largest ever deal in euros, tapping its June 2040 line for €212m. The deal has, according to a funding official at the issuer, paved the way for a debut public transaction in the currency.

A key measure of US market volatility has hit its lowest point for a year, suggesting traders are counting on the recent calm to continue, with no shocks or surprises.

As the state of Illinois faces one of the worst budget standoffs in its history, some lawmakers are proposing a tax on derivatives that one advocate called the "single-bullet solution”.

Property developer Frasers Centrepoint is likely to begin bookbuilding on Friday for a potential S$900m ($651.5m) real estate investment trust IPO in Singapore, a source close to the deal told GlobalCapital Asia.

Cablevision, Argentina’s leading pay TV and broadband provider, will look to revive the country’s corporate bond market with a $500m deal to refinance existing debt.

Scotiabank de Costa Rica has included Taiwanese lenders in its list of invitees for a $75m two-tranche fundraising, following in the footsteps of many other borrowers from Latin America that are looking to Asia for liquidity.

Enduring optimism about Argentina’s economic prospects, increased funding from the federal government and the chance for investors to pick up significant spreads over the sovereign will continue to allow Argentine sub-sovereigns to tap international bond market in volume, said market participants.

Brazilian meatpacker Marfrig increased the size of a new bond by 50% and still saw it trade two points above reoffer the day after pricing this week as Lat Am syndicate bankers said they were lining up more corporate issuance from beleaguered Brazil.

Province of British Columbia

Walgreens Boots Alliance unveiled a five trancher on Thursday as it looked to tie up the acquisition financing for its $17bn purchase of Rite Aid ahead of the holiday weekend, following a bumper month for issuance in the US high grade bond market.

A pair of issuers reopened the 10 year part of the dollar curve for sovereigns, supranationals and agencies this week, but despite both trades gaining plaudits there is still scepticism over whether a $2bn-plus sized deal is possible.