Citi

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.

Harley-Davidson, the US motorbike maker, has opened books on a three year euro bond at a nosebleed-inducing wide spread. Bankers suggest the company had little choice but to accept to pay a sky high margin.

Fater Belbachir is joining Citi as head of equities, a year after taking on the same position at Barclays. The US bank is changing the leadership structure of its equities and securities services business (ESS).

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.

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.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is preparing to issue a global sustainable development bond as early as next week to finance its newly created Crisis Recovery Facility aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

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.

Citi has raised HK$2.3bn ($300m) from a cash-settled exchangeable bond that uses Chinese property company Longfor Group Holdings as the reference stock, offering the market a rare structure for the first EB in the region this year.

The merger of the UK’s largest mobile phone operator, O2, with cable company Virgin Media, agreed on Thursday, will generate a £6bn financing need which the parties want to complete before the deal closes, expected to be in 2021 — and later on, it could lead to an IPO, say sources close to the deal.

China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec) priced a $3bn bond through its curve on Wednesday after investors flocked to the triple-tranche transaction, leading to a peak book of $23bn.