Canada

Royal Bank of Canada took advantage of deeper demand for fixed rate paper than floating in sterling covered bonds, issuing a five year trade on Wednesday. RBC has gathered more demand for its deal than Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, which issued a floating rate deal a day before.

Four covered bond issuers returned to the market on Tuesday with the first deals of 2017. Two €1.5bn 10 year transactions showed that borrowers are prioritising the tougher, longer duration deals and, while conditions permit, issuing in large size.

Canada’s low debt to GDP ratio and stable politics have made it a haven in a turbulent era in global politics. But, with fears of a wave of protectionism growing, the trade-focused country faces problems ahead. However, with its fiscal stimulus programme an example to other nations wishing to promote growth, Canada’s borrowers are confident they can adapt and prosper in the new political reality. GlobalCapital hosted this roundtable in early December.

At around €10bn Canadian banks are expected to issue the highest net volume of euro-denominated covered bonds in 2017. And, given high dollar redemptions, a favourable cross-currency swap and an active mortgage market, supply could even beat expectations.

A pair of public sector borrowers hit screens this week for dollar syndications, providing an unexpectedly strong climax to 2016.

The Canadian province of Alberta sold on Thursday its largest ever dollar benchmark with a deal that benefitted from a double whammy of being its first as an SEC-registered issuer and a strong credit story for the oil producer following a rise in the commodity's price in the wake of Opec’s decision on Wednesday to cut production.

Royal Bank of Canada’s capital markets division dragged on the bank’s fourth quarter results, posting a 13% year on year decline in profits.

In this round-up, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange saw surges in trading of offshore RMB (CNH) futures, BMO became the first Canadian bank to become market maker for CAD-RMB direct trading, and the country of Djibouti is launching a Silk Road Bank. Plus a recap of GlobalRMB’s top stories this week.

Public sector borrower supply is beginning to trickle through after a volatile Monday, but bankers are warning that market conditions are far from perfect — and some issuers are still unwilling to take a chance on a deal.

In this new Monday round-up from GlobalRMB, we bring you a collection of market and regulatory developments from the weekend as well as provide a preview of upcoming events this week.

National Bank of Canada became the first North American lender to sell a Panda bond on Wednesday, raising Rmb3.5bn ($517m) from a three year note. What stood out, however, was not the deal execution but how the lender managed to convince the regulators that the sale aligns with China’s Belt and Road initiative.

China’s domestic fixed income market is set for another milestone with National Bank of Canada (NBC) poised to sell a Panda bond on Wednesday – becoming the first North American bank to do so.