Europe

AMS, the Austrian sensor maker, has launched a Sfr1.75bn (€1.65bn) rights issue, despite volatile equity markets but bankers hope that the attractive entry price and the steady nature of the company itself will be enough to ensure a successful deal, despite difficult equity markets.

Spreads on financial institutions bonds are recovering from a brutal sell-off at the beginning of the week, as European governments and central banks weigh in to help economies deal with the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Once again, corporate bond markets have staged a recovery after a shutdown of several days as asset prices plummeted in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak. Three industrial companies plus JP Morgan issued bonds in the US on Tuesday, which “all went exceptionally well” according to a head of syndicate in London. Danone launched on Wednesday the first euro corporate issue of the week, paying a high spread but small new issue premium.

The European Union is set to make at least €25bn of budget funding available for sectors affected by the Covid-19 coronavirus, as its institutions join forces to tackle the economic impact of the outbreak. Rules on state aid and public finance will also be loosened, giving member states more room to launch fiscal stimulus measures.

One of the internal candidates to become the next permanent head of European M&A at RBC Capital Markets has quit to join a boutique.

Deutsche Bank said this week that it will keep its $1.25bn 6.25% additional tier one outstanding beyond its first call date, having become the second European bank to extend the life of an AT1 for economic reasons.

The recent fall in the price of oil is having a knock-on effect on non-core currency issuance. While oil dependent markets could take a hit as their currencies weaken, some net importers could benefit from a stronger currency and safe haven flows.

On Monday, a day when European stock indices plummeted, hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates was executing short positions against 37 of the continent's companies, particularly in France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

What a time to be a new UK chancellor of the exchequer preparing to make your maiden Budget speech, as Rishi Sunak will do on Wednesday. He has motive and opportunity to borrow big and pay little for it. Brexit and the coronavirus outbreak mean a lot of spending will need to be funded to keep the UK economy running. But how the cash is deployed will shape the government's credibility in the eyes of Gilt investors.

Every time a UK company gets into trouble, the call goes up for a state rescue — calls which the government, sensibly, usually rejects. With the increasingly troubled Intu, however, it might not be the worst idea.

Market participants are calling on European financial authorities to help banks deal with the impact of Covid-19. Forbearance could come in the shape of state guarantees or in the form of the relaxation of certain elements of bank capital requirements.

Italy’s capital markets bankers are keeping calm amid the coronavirus crisis, getting used to working from home, and trying to support clients as well as they can, while wishing for help from Europe and the European Central Bank. But they are not allowing themselves to hope the worst is over. The health crisis is acute and getting worse.