Europe

Morgan Stanley more than doubled its revenue from fixed income sales and trading in the fourth quarter of last year, completing a stellar set of earnings for US banks in that business after a year in which they appear to have cemented their dominance in Europe.

An Estonian covered bond could soon be due in the market after Moody’s rated Luminor Bank’s programme this week — the first to be structured under the country’s newly established law. The rating comes after the European Central Bank granted Luminor a license to issue covered bonds in December.

NordLB Luxembourg was expected to arrive in the market with its inaugural renewable energy covered bond late last year, having completed a market programme and mandated lead managers. On Thursday it finally plucked up the courage to re-announce the long-awaited deal — the first to be ever issued under the country’s new law.

Credit Mutuel Home Loan SFH (CM-CIC) completed a busy week in the euro covered bond market with a €1.25bn 10 year offering on Thursday. The deal emerged amid growing concern that euro covered bond supply will fall, as borrowers like SCBC, Danske Bank and Nordea turn to local currency markets, while others see better alternative funding opportunities, or simply bide their time.

Société Générale has redoubled its commitment to equity capital markets under a new structure designed to ensure it remains a force in investment banking when consolidation comes, writes David Rothnie.

US issuers are tapping into favourable conditions the euro bond market after reporting their latest results. Goldman Sachs and New York Life Insurance were quick to launch senior bonds on Thursday, boosting supply volumes just as European lenders start preparing for their own reporting season.

Transition bonds are likely to be a key part of the development of a sustainable economy in central and eastern Europe, delegates said at the Euromoney Central and Eastern European Forum in Vienna this week. While investors are keen to put money to work in the region, government support is still needed.

Ibercaja Banco was said to have steered a new tier two bond through fair value on Thursday, when the Spanish lender also announced the results of a tender for some of its existing capital securities.

Private capital in central and eastern Europe is gaining traction after a decade of diminished enthusiasm from international investors. Local firms continue to dominate the region's private equity and direct lending markets, but some international players are eyeing them again, while others remain cautious.

Anta Sports Products made a stellar euro equity-linked debut this week, sealing a €1bn zero-coupon convertible bond at a negative yield. The deal had its share of challenges, but showed what is possible in a market that has seen a change in sentiment recently. Jonathan Breen reports.

Turkey lender TSKB printed its $400m five year senior bond on Wednesday inside its own curve. The sale drew a $3.9bn book, allowing a big tightening from initial guidance to pricing. Following the clear success of the deal, other Turkish banks are expected to follow, starting with Isbank which was straight in with its own subordinated bond on Thursday.

EMEA equity capital markets were on fire on Wednesday night, when almost €3bn of paper was priced, in a number of deals, strengthening the impression that January is turning out to be a productive month for EMEA ECM.