CEE Bonds

After a decade of slumber, the market for euro-denominated Hungarian covered bonds could be poised to reopen. Hungary covered bonds may have a low country ceiling credit rating but the market is well protected and could offer positive yields.

CEEMEA sovereign borrowers extended their last minute funding spree this week with Romania joining Ivory Coast in the primary bond market.

Less than a week after Turkey made a long desired increase in interest rates hike, the sovereign has returned to the bond market for a last gasp bond deal before the market starts to run down for the year. The situation is giving market insiders confidence that Turkey is returning to orthodox policy making.

The Republic of Serbia this week raised a dollar bond in its second offering of the year, in what has been an exceptionally busy year for central and eastern European sovereign issuers.

The Republic of Uzbekistan, which debuted in international debt markets just last year, sold a dual currency bond this week, as foreign investors eyed up an Uzbek som tranche.

The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey delivered a much anticipated interest rate hike on Thursday, fulfilling market watchers' hopes that the country will reform its way to economic recovery. A trip to the primary bond market for the sovereign could be imminent.

With the inauguration of US president-elect Joe Biden in January will come increased expectations of further sanctions against Russian figures and corporates. Russian issuers should take advantage of the rally initiated by Biden's election performance and follow their sovereign into bond markets to raise cash while the going is good.

Turkey could be on track for one of the most remarkable emerging market recoveries of the year, after a shake-up of top officials signalled a return to orthodox monetary policy, inspiring confidence among investors. With the lira starting to recover from record lows, bond market insiders anticipate a new issue before the end of the year. Mariam Meskin reports.

The Russian Federation and the Republic of Hungary brought euro-denominated trades on Thursday, taking the opportunity to get funding done during good conditions in the run-up to the US Thanksgiving holiday, after which liquidity is expected to dry up.

Emerging market issuers have crept back into the small issuance window in international markets after a brief pause for the US elections, with Dubai Islamic Bank and Uzbekistan’s Ipoteka Bank issuing dollar-denominated bonds this week.

Ukraine is expected to return to international bond markets as concerns mount around the impact the country’s lack of progress with anti-corruption reforms will have on an upcoming IMF disbursement.

The shock departure this weekend of Turkey’s central bank governor and finance minister has sparked hopes among market watchers that a monetary policy overhaul could be on the cards, as the lira made a modest recovery on Monday. The news follows what has been a tumultuous period for the currency, which this month hit record lows.