BNP Paribas

AusNet Services Holdings, the Australian energy company, was one of a handful of high grade corporate euro mandates announced on Monday morning, as syndicate bankers said that the volatility in the rates market means issuers will need to accept paying wider spreads.

Four public sector borrowers announced new deals in the primary market on Monday ahead of the European Union’s much anticipated second transaction from its Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency programme this year, which is expected to arrive later in the week.

Bank of Nova Scotia returned to the dollar market with its first new trade in five months this week, after reporting its fiscal first quarter earnings. It was followed by Truist Financial selling an inaugural social bond.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank issued its second bond in Indian rupees via a private placement this week. Elsewhere, as rates rise, MTN dealers are finding attractive opportunities in other key Asian markets.

Two Chinese property companies seized the market window on Thursday to raise a combined $802m from the bond market.

Banks and investors’ claims to be acting on climate change appear to clash with the financing they still provide in the real economy, research showed this week — such as plans to increase fossil fuel production and consumption, even in the UK and France.

Look at any bank’s website or hear its CEO speak and you will get a torrent of virtuous words about climate change, sustainability and supporting clients on their journeys to net zero. The same goes for big investors, from BlackRock down, but the windows of their ivory towers are misted up with all the hot air being spouted.

Amount: Ba3/BB+/BB+

Saudi Arabia sold its second euro denominated bond on Wednesday, achieving a negative yield — the first bond of its kind from a Middle East issuer. However, some in the market were underwhelmed with the transaction, which they say is evident in the deal statistics.

EasyJet, the UK budget airline, avoided any turbulence on its return to the bond market on Wednesday, managing to land a €1.2bn deal with no new issue premium that was almost five times oversubscribed.

BNP Paribas returned to the Swiss franc market to land a new senior non-preferred issue slightly inside its euro curve this week. In recent weeks, several foreign borrowers have tapped the market and, with tightening levels looking attractive, bankers are confident more could follow.

Svenska Handelsbanken returned to the Kangaroo market this week to print a five year preferred senior deal at a decade tight level, as the long-term absence of funding from the Aussie market's major domestic banks drives down senior spreads.