Currencies

Clashes during Catalonia’s disputed independence referendum over the weekend have taken their toll on Spanish government bonds ahead of a Bono auction on Thursday. But the country’s borrowing costs could steepen further if, as expected, the Catalan authorities declare independence, said analysts.

Corporate bond issuers are targeting the second half of this week to bring their deals to market. Tuesday’s German Unity Day public holiday is being seen by syndicate managers as having more of an impact on issuance plans than Sunday’s events in Catalonia.

September has not been as busy by volume as usual in the corporate bond market, but that is more because of the size of deals, rather than the number. Syndicate managers expect this trend to continue in October with healthy pipelines in front of them.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China raised $2bn-equivalent from its three tranche offshore green bond debut, making it one of the largest green bond deals from a Chinese bank.

International investors are recognising the progress that Abenomics has made in turning around Japan’s recently moribund economy. The long-awaited acceleration in domestic demand is finally taking place, while business confidence is high. But can this progress be maintained while inflation and government finances remain weak and North Korea pushes the region towards conflict?

Rating: Aa3/A+

The votes are in on last week's solitary benchmark from the SSA sector. The BondMarker voters have delivered their verdict on Oesterreichische KontrollBank's €1.5bn September 2024 note.

KfW has sold Europe’s first blockchain-based bond, although a quirk of German law meant the transaction had to be replicated on paper. While the bond was instantly settled, those involved say a crucial component is missing if this technology is to become part of capital markets’ infrastructure: a cash settlement facility on a distributed ledger.

Volkswagen Leasing brought its second euro corporate bond deal of 2017 on Monday. The €2.25bn dual tranche offering took Volkswagen’s total issuance this year to €17.25bn. This is more than twice as much as General Electric, the next highest issuer by volume.

On Thursday, Belgian gas transmission system operator, Fluxys, successfully priced both sub-benchmark tranches of its latest corporate bond deal it had set out to sell when it met with investors earlier in the week. The 10 year tenor was the company’s primary aim, but it was also willing to explore reverse enquiry for a 15 year tenor.

Having made euro investors wait three years since its last deal, in 2014, Australian pallet and container provider Brambles finally returned to the single currency market on Tuesday, printing a deal with virtually no new issue premium.

Chilean credit union Cooperativa del Personal de la Universidad de Chile (Coopeuch) joins the ranks of Chilean borrowers welcomed into the Swiss franc bond market. Thursday’s outing further illustrates that the love affair of the Chilean borrower and Swiss buyer not only endures but burns brightly.