Europe

Safran, the French aerospace and defence company, has joined the long list of companies that have tapped the equity-linked market for funding during the Covid-19 global pandemic, by placing a new €800m convertible bond on Tuesday.

Iccrea Banca said on Tuesday that it had obtained the necessary regulatory approval to call two of its outstanding subordinated bonds, amid debate about the economic merits of leaving capital instruments outstanding.

The UK Debt Management Office launched its first syndication of the new financial year on Tuesday, smashing all previous records for deal and order book size and making a healthy start on the sovereign’s largest ever borrowing programme in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Turkey has stood out among emerging market countries for its rapid-fire approach to monetary policy, as it attempts to turbo-charge growth amid the coronavirus pandemic. But with sustained downward pressure on the lira, few foreign investors are willing to buy in. The crisis is also causing a hedging conundrum.

Trading levels given are bid-side spreads versus mid-swaps and/or an underlying benchmark and bid-yields from the close of business on Monday, May 11. The source for secondary trading levels is ICE Data Services.

Euro area banks have increased their reliance on preferred senior funding during the coronavirus crisis, fuelling speculation that some lenders may be expecting a softening of their minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL).

Several borrowers have entered the Schuldschein market after car parts maker Robert Bosch fired the starting gun on the market's reopening last week. Market participants are now eager to know which will be the first non-German issuer.

Diversified Gas and Oil, the London-listed US oil and gas firm, has raised £69.4m of equity to help fund a package of potential acquisitions, taking advantage of continued low global oil and gas prices.

Investors were "hugely receptive" to Hypo Noe’s seven year Pfandbrief issued on Tuesday, suggesting it is only a matter of time before another borrower tests demand further along the curve with a 10 year covered bond — which would be the first since early March, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted markets. Reopening such long dated funding would provide a compelling alternative to using central bank liquidity.

Credit Suisse has become the first Swiss bank to issue a green bond in the euro market, and has also marketed a rare floating rate note. The trades were testament to improving market conditions and the ability for strong names to sell less common products.

Fater Belbachir is joining Citi as head of equities, a year after taking on the same position at Barclays. The US bank is changing the leadership structure of its equities and securities services business (ESS).

Both the European Commission and the European Court of Justice have put out statements dismissing the verdict of Germany's Federal Constitutional Court (BVG) on the European Central Bank’s Public Sector Purchase Programme, going some way to soothe concerns over the ECB’s future.