BNP Paribas

Crédit Mutuel Arkéa has joined a fast-growing list of banks marketing Covid-19 response funding in the bond market, raising €750m in non-preferred senior format on Thursday to finance projects through its social bond framework that tackle the effects of the pandemic

Standard Chartered sold its first capital instrument in euros since 2014 this week, clocking up a considerable 40bp saving versus the dollar market. The deal adds to a recent flurry of tier two supply from European banks.

Italy once again asserted its market access on Wednesday, raising a staggering €14bn — its biggest single tranche bond ever. The new issue was timed just ahead of Thursday’s ECB meeting, at which the governing council is expected to expand its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (Pepp).

Four public sector borrowers hit the dollar market on Wednesday, including a rare seven year deal from new issuer International Development Association (IDA).

French food company Danone led the pack in a strong day for vanilla corporate bond issuance in Europe, with an €800m deal, as some syndicate bankers say recent borrowers are looking to return to the market soon to take advantage of tightening spreads.

Banks are taking a greater share of issuance in the bond markets in the middle of the second quarter, with a spread rally opening the way to deals in all currencies and across the capital structure.

Renault, the French car company, has arranged an up to €5bn short-term credit facility backed by its government, as fierce complaints have followed similar guarantees in other industries.

Hongkong Electric skipped a roadshow for its return to the dollar bond market after a four-year hiatus, relying on its rarity value and the defensive nature of the utilities sector to raise $500m.

Italy and the European Union will reboot the euro public sector bond market on Wednesday after announcing syndications of new 10 and 15 year bonds, respectively. The deals will come ahead of the European Central Bank’s meeting on Thursday, in which it is widely expected to increase the size of its Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (Pepp).

Repsol, the Spanish oil major, had a rip-roaring time in the hybrid capital bond market on Tuesday, achieving bumper books and paying minimal new issue concessions for its dual tranche issue. But some bankers think the market is starting to look too exuberant and may be due a correction.

Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, flattened its curve on Tuesday with a €3.5bn three tranche bond issue that commanded €15.1bn of demand. But European syndicate bankers said it offered no read-across for whether airlines might return to the bond market soon and that their chances of doing a deal were distant.

KommuneKredit has announced that it will begin purchases of two of its outstanding dollar bonds due to mature in 2021. At the same time, investors will be offered the chance to purchase new five year bonds.