BNP Paribas

Public sector borrowers found plenty of demand as they hit the market with dollar deals across the curve on Tuesday. With robust demand and a favourable basis swap for euro funders, more issuers have lined up deals in the currency to follow.

Saudi Aramco has closed a $10bn loan, according to bankers near the deal. The loan — the largest signed in the Middle East so far this year — comes amid a drop in oil prices, which has sent borrowers in the Gulf hunting for financing.

Mining company Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) battled weakening fundamentals and financial troubles at its state-owned peers to raise $2.5bn from a triple-tranche bond on Monday.

Santander has surged to the front rank of the EMEA syndicated loan market since the coronavirus crisis began — the bank made a deliberate strategic push.

Eni saw chunky demand for the first Italian corporate bond sold since the coronavirus pandemic hit markets in March, but it had to pay up over its curve compered to oil industry peers from outside Italy.

Five public sector borrowers are marketing dollar bonds across the curve kicking off what it is expected to be a busy week in the currency.

Eurofima, the supranational institution that finances European rolling stock, is planning to bring a euro green bond with a 10 year maturity. The European Stability Mechanism kicked off the euro supranational bond market this week with a €1.5bn tap on Monday to complete its benchmark funding needs for the quarter.

SEB offered investors a negative new issue premium with its preferred senior deal on Monday. With conditions consistently improving for European issuers, this deal has shown that the market is ripe for issuance in the format.

The Republic of Serbia hit euro markets on Monday as it worked to stack up funding for its fight against the Covid-19 coronavirus, selling a seven year bond.

The lure of prestigious, fee-paying Bund syndications has driven banks to up their bids in Germany’s auctions, driving up the bid to cover ratio on its auctions and bringing down the sovereign’s cost of funds.

Eni, the oil and gas company, became the first Italian corporate to open books on a syndicated bond since the coronavirus pandemic sent markets went haywire in March, as syndicate bankers say issuance levels will ramp up sharply in the coming days.

Monday started on a quiet note for Asia’s bond market, with Indonesia’s Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) the only issuer to venture out. While deal windows are open, bankers say that borrowers are taking it slow.