Barclays

Price guidance for Latvia’s euro benchmark 10 has been tightened to 125bp over mid-swaps, in a move widely expected after a generous starting position. Two bankers away from the deal had said they expected to see tightening from the initial 135bp starting number before the Reg S note was priced later on Thursday.

Barclays CEO Anthony Jenkins said at the bank’s AGM that its fixed income, currency and commodities (FICC) business “continued to face many of the challenges seen in the second half of 2013 with a significant year-on-year reduction in FICC income, reflecting difficult market conditions and a strong comparative performance for Q1 last year.”

Interxion Holding, the Dutch data centres business, on Wednesday tapped its €325m July 2020 high yield bond, issued last June.

Woori Bank opened the books for the first dollar denominated Basel III deal from a South Korean bank on Wednesday morning with a 10 year bullet tier two bond.

Thai bank paper continues to be in favour with Kasikornbank pricing 5bp inside its existing curve, despite the ongoing political headwinds.

Tencent printed the largest ever dollar bond for an Asian technology company on Tuesday night with a $2.5bn three and five year dual tranche transaction that attracted an orderbook that was more than five times subscribed. A ratings bump since its last outing ensured the issuer got a good response from the US and allowed it price comfortable inside its curve.

Italian insurer Assicurazioni Generali took advantage of a good market tone to offer up a deal that combined several features of recent success stories: subordinated insurance debt, and Europe's periphery.

Katherine Lau, head of loan syndicate for Asia Pacific at Barclays, has left the bank after working in the role for just ten months.

Aegon set out at the end of last week to sell a €700m 30 year non-call 10 year subordinated bond, successfully printing the deal even as market players headed out the door for Easter weekend.

Woori Bank is set to continue the rush of Basel III compliant tier two paper having mandated banks for a transaction which is expected to launch Wednesday.

Chinese technology firm Tencent launched its first dual tranche transaction on Tuesday morning. The issue follows the establishment of a new $5bn GMTN programme by the issuer last month and is likely to raise more than $1bn sets its sights on the US investor base.

Kasikornbank is out with guidance for a new bond and follows Siam Commercial Bank to be the second international deal from Thailand this year. The rarity of Thai paper saw strong demand for SCB and books are building equally as strongly for the new trade, according to bankers.