Euro

Two covered bond issuers from Sweden and Germany launched euro benchmarks on Tuesday. Both transactions were healthily oversubscribed, but with a wider starting spread, Swedish Covered Bond Corporation (SCBC) was able to issue a much larger volume, and tighten pricing during the bookbuild.

WL Bank mandated leads for the second €500m 10 year of 2016 from a German bank this year, and the fifth 10 year overall. Meanwhile, SCBC will follow DNB Boligkreditt with the fourth five year from a bank outside the Eurozone.

BNP Paribas and Compagnie de Financement Foncier seized the chance to issue euro benchmark covered bonds on Friday after sentiment improved overnight. But with spread widening likely to resume before long, one major investor felt the long 10 year from CFF would fare better than the tightly priced five year from BNPP, even though the CFF deal was only just subscribed.

A large group of investors is determined to reject a buyback offer on billions of euros in soured bonds guaranteed by the Austrian State of Carinthia — an offer that may represent the province's only chance of avoiding an unprecedented bankruptcy. Covered bonds are unaffected.

The European ABS market is rolling on despite wider market volatility, with Obvion releasing what market participants have described as “attractive” price thoughts for its Storm 2016-1 Dutch RMBS deal.

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.