Currencies

French agency aims to diversify currency mix via benchmarks and PPs, and execute euro taps

In a year dominated by the collapse and takeover of Credit Suisse, financial institutions were keen to re‑establish investor confidence in some of the riskier asset classes. Axa led the way just weeks after the CS rescue with a €1bn subordinated bond. In the autumn, UBS made a bold statement about the stability of Swiss bank capital as it returned to AT1 issuance with two $1.75bn tranches. Elsewhere, banks dealt with tricky conditions and pulled off some skilfully timed transactions, underlining the market’s faith in mainstream currencies and emphasising the appeal of ESG labels

Covered bond benchmark issuance in euros had reached €175bn by early November 2023, suggesting the market was on track to reach €185bn for the year — somewhat less than 2022’s record of a little over €200bn. Although gross volumes are expected to decline a little in 2024, they are likely to remain well above average and, in the absence of central bank support, further pressure on spreads is expected.

Financial institutions’ funding requirements point to a busy start to their bond sales in 2024. But, as Atanas Dinov reports, banks may need to compete for attention not only with other financial credits but with the broader fixed income universe, as we reveal the results of our FIG market survey

When the shockwave set off by the failure of Silicon Valley Bank swept the legs from under Credit Suisse, all the talent and relationships of a big investment bank were up for grabs. UBS has tried to hang on to what it sees as the best bits — but the biggest beneficiaries are likely to be rivals. Jon Hay and David Rothnie report

The main consideration for eurozone banks at the start of 2023 was to garner what remained of the ECB bid for covered bonds but by the end of the year they had negotiated not one but two crises. Sarah Ainsworth reports on how, despite all the volatility, they navigated another strong year for issuance

The Swiss franc bond market weathered the collapse of one of its two biggest players in 2023 to enjoy its busiest year since 2014. Investors welcomed foreign issuers from all quarters with open arms and, as Sophie Astles writes, those visitors may be here to stay

Observers could have been forgiven for thinking the additional tier one market might be as defunct as Credit Suisse, the bank whose demise mired it in controversy. By the autumn AT1s had come roaring back but, as Sarah Aisnworth reports, this was not 2023’s only wild ride in the FIG primary market

Issuer sets €160bn maximum for 2024 and pushes on in EGB quest

◆ Rate cut expectations raise appeal of bank debt ◆ NBC and Ally Financial push annual issuance to $593bn ◆ Yankee and US regional banks expected to lift supply in 2024

Big demand expected but companies still wary on debt plans

Despite prevailing bleak sentiment from expensive Pfandbrief issuers, the market is bracing for the reopening of the long end of the market