Currencies

A survey of 35 investors polled by Fitch at the end of last year suggested around two-thirds are switching out of covered bonds to other asset classes.

Crédit Agricole issued the first covered bond of the week on Thursday and showed that it is possible to get a strong outcome despite a tough market, something which eluded Compagnie de Financement Foncier on Wednesday.

Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) could allow the country’s banks to issue more covered bonds. The supervisor will begin a consultation this year which may lead to a change of the 4% limit on covered bond issuance.

Compagnie de Financement Foncier had been expected to open books for the first covered bond of the week on Wednesday but postponed the deal as market conditions deteriorated. Apart from the unfortunate timing, rival bankers said the long tenor was the wrong choice for the weak market.

FMS Wertmanagement has launched two separate tender offers on the Irish Stock Exchange for euro, swiss franc, US and Canadian dollar denominated covered bonds issued by DEPFA Bank and DEPFA Pfandbrief Bank SA.

Spreads on covered bonds from Italy’s weaker credits have shot skyward this week, with indicative bids in the worst affected names out by at least 25bp since the start of the year. The moves have followed renewed concerns over their non-performing loans.

Compagnie de Financement Fonciere is expected to open books for a euro benchmark covered bond on Wednesday, which in light of market turbulence and the long 10 year tenor, may need to offer a tempting initial concession. Market conditions permitting, another issuer could brave the market with an alternative offering.

The supply outlook for covered bonds issued by well rated borrowers in Europe’s core and issues outside the eurozone is constructive, particularly in the defensive three to five year area, bankers told The Cover on Monday. However, with demand for peripheral supply less assured, the supply outlook for all but the very best names is set to remain challenging.

South Korea’s Kookmin Bank has selected four banks to run a potential return to the covered bond market, but a source at the issuer said that due to unfavourable market conditions, there’s a possibility that the deal will not materialise.

Virgin Money's prime UK RMBS Gosforth Funding 2016-1 was priced on Friday and attracted strong demand across all three currencies on offer. Further RMBS supply is expected from UK and Dutch issuers.

Portugal equalled its largest ever benchmark size with a visit to the 10 year part of the curve on Thursday, taking the week’s overall sovereign euro issuance to a record high.

The covered bond primary market was quiet on Thursday as weak credit market conditions prevailed, and with this year’s supply double the amount seen in the same period last year, indigestion has weighed on spreads. Though it is still early days, banks with this year’s largest market shares are quite distinct from those of 2015.