Europe

Demand for corporate bonds is strong but it is at its strongest for green and hybrid debt, especially for deals that combine both qualities. On Tuesday, Spanish utility Iberdrola found similar demand for green hybrids to that which Engie and EDP had benefited from in January, and market participants are starting to revise their issuance forecasts for the asset class.

The UK’s equity capital markets are facing a difficult year, as companies hold off from share sales due to the uncertainty surrounding the UK’s impending departure from the European Union. The German-speaking region is therefore likely to be the dominant fee pool in Europe this year, while emerging markets will become a still more important source of IPOs on the London Stock Exchange. But Brexit angst is chilling markets even beyond the UK.

France should take advantage of strong market conditions to issue its planned 30 year syndication before any potential volatility arises, according to analysts.

Greencoat UK Wind, the UK infrastructure fund focused on wind farm development, has begun the deal roadshow for its latest £131m capital increase.

The European Investment Bank on Monday selected the five year part of the curve for its second euro benchmark of the year. The issuer will be hoping to replicate the recent success of public sector agencies in that tenor, including KfW, which achieved a record breaking book for its five year last week.

Finland and Madrid hit screens on Monday to capitalise on the red hot appetite for euro sovereign supply in the 10 year part of the curve.

SEB issued a seven year covered bond last week 9bp tighter than where DNB Boligkreditt was able to print at the start of this year, showing just how far spreads have rallied. Even though the market is still well supported, investors could soon become reluctant to chase the market even tighter.

When the Western world returned to its desk after being glad to be rid of 2018, corporate bond issuers approached the market cautiously and bankers ensured that deals were sensitively executed. Those approaches brought successful deals and the market has not looked back since. As the Chinese calendar gets set to turn to the year 4717, the market is hoping that this run can be extended.

NordLB said at the weekend that it had welcomed an offer of an equity injection from the German association of savings banks (DSGV) and the State of Lower Saxony, as it looks to restore its capital position to above its minimum requirements.

After National Grid’s 16 year sterling corporate bond deal was more than six times oversubscribed on Tuesday and BMW found huge demand for a €3bn euro deal on Thursday, Volkswagen Financial Services tested the sterling market on Friday and found demand just as strong.

Deutsche Bank’s weak set of results on Friday were driven by losses in its corporate and investment bank, notably in fixed income and currencies trading, but bank chiefs suggested the CIB performance was set to improve. The bank, subject to rumours about a merger with Commerzbank, also made sure to state that it had more than enough capacity to pay additional tier one coupons.

France will increase the size of its June 2039 Green OAT next Thursday through auction, according to the Agence France Trésor.