Barclays

Institutional investors turned out in force for Slovenia’s euro market return on Wednesday, allowing the sovereign to tighten pricing by more than 10bp.

Five banks raised more than $10bn in the senior unsecured dollar market this week, exploiting strong demand and at spreads that were in line with where covered bonds would have priced.

HSBC and Santander UK found strong demand for senior bonds issued from their holding companies this week, revealing an opportunity for more deeply subordinated supply such as Nordea’s tier two benchmark.

First-timer Far East Consortium International found markets plane sailing on Wednesday, managing to raise $300m thanks to no other high yield names distracting investors.

Big bids from across Europe allowed Slovenia to tighten pricing by more than 10bp on its euro market return on Wednesday.

The dollar market is set to remain the “darling” — in the words of one syndicate banker — currency in the coming weeks, after a trio of strong deals on Wednesday.

General Motors Financial, the financing subsidiary of the US automotive giant, hit the European corporate bond market with speed on Wednesday as it issued a benchmark transaction.

The European Financial Stability Facility has sent out a request for proposals for a bond issue next week, as Finland highlighted how much demand issuers can muster in the euro market — even at yields well below 0%.

Slovenia became the first central and eastern European name to tap the core currency markets after the summer lull on Wednesday with a reopening of its €1bn March 2035s.

KKR-backed Pillarstone, the non-performing loan acquisition and advisory company, has picked a chief operating officer after starting operations last year.

Qatar National Bank (QNB) hit the screens with the first benchmark trade from the Gulf Cooperation Council after the summer break on Wednesday, taking orders in excess of $2.4bn by 10am.

Just a day after DBS sealed a $750m deal from a Basel III compliant additional tier one note, the bank capital market has seen some fresh action with United Overseas Bank eyeing a tier two offering.