Citi

After a dismally quiet year of issuance in 2020, bankers are convinced that sub-Saharan African bond volumes will make a strong recovery. The Republic of Benin is sounding out investors for a euro-denominated offering, its second foray into the market since its debut two years ago.

The Republic of Indonesia kicked off its 2021 bond issuance this week with a $3bn deal in dollars, split across 10 year, 30 year and 50 year notes, as well as a €1bn tranche.

Chinese toll road operator Zhejiang Expressway kick-started Asia's equity-linked market this week, dipping into euros for the year’s first convertible bond. It plans to use all the proceeds to repay debt.

Singapore-based Ivanhoe Capital, led by mining billionaire Robert Friedland, is floating a special purpose acquisition company (Spac) on the New York Stock Exchange.

Europe’s investment grade corporate bond market continued its blazing start to the year on a busy Tuesday with trades coming flat to or through secondary curves, and syndicate bankers say the blistering momentum is set to last throughout January.

Standard Chartered and Crédit Agricole jumped into the long end of the yield curve on Tuesday, as the pair looked to harness the desire for long-dated dollar debt.

Lucy Baldwin is joining Citi in April as head of research and equity advisory within the markets and securities services division (MSS).

The Republic of Indonesia, a keen issuer in dollar and euro markets, launched a euro-denominated benchmark bond on Tuesday, jumpstarting its funding for the year.

Indian borrowers re-entered the bond market on Monday, led by the Export-Import Bank of India which printed the country’s first dollar deal of 2021.

Chinese clinical-stage company Gracell Biotechnologies has kicked off the roadshow for its Nasdaq listing, eyeing up to $158.9m in proceeds.

Chinese property borrowers reopened Asia’s primary dollar bond market on Monday, with four issuers raising nearly $2bn between them following solid demand from investors.

The European Investment Bank made a blazing start on Monday in tackling its 2021 borrowing programme, hitting the Australian dollar and sterling markets on Monday, and lining up a dollar deal for Tuesday.