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Ukraine priced a $2bn 12 year bond on July 1, tightening pricing to 7.3% yield that was inside the expectations of many market participants as the country passed a major test of international investor acceptance with flying colours.

Hungary wasted little time in turning this year’s increased external funding needs into an opportunity to expand its green bond plans. Yet though sustainability is quickly climbing the list of priorities in Central and Eastern Europe, not all countries are likely to hop on the green bond wagon

Central and Eastern Europe had never been better prepared for a crisis than when Covid-19 hit, and the region’s governments faced few obstacles in ramping up external bond issuance this year. But there is uncertainty regarding what EU funding will mean for CEE volumes

Though China has increased co-operation with Central and Eastern European nations in recent years, provoking some concern in the EU, investment volumes remain muted. Non-EU nations in the Balkans, however, offer a chance to progress on the Belt & Road initiative

Multi-field cooperation and integration

Florin Cîțu, Romania’s finance minister, is in defiant mood as he speaks to GlobalMarkets from the campaign trail ahead of a busy election cycle. The previous day, September 22, parliament had voted to amend the budget to increase pensions by 40% — instead of the 14% increase that the National Liberal Party (PNL)-led government, which has a minority in parliament, had implemented.

Crunch time is coming for the shift away from Libor and a recent survey shows that the majority of companies have yet to do anything tangible in preparation. Quite right too. Lenders need to realise this is a bank problem, not a client issue.

Fears of another spike in coronavirus cases are dampening optimism that Central and Eastern European economies would charge out of recovery. But a strong starting position and the EU’s huge support packages mean the region is better placed than most

Asian borrowers looking to tap the international dollar bond market this year have only a small window of opportunity to raise funds. They should act quickly.

In this round-up, China announces draft regulations for its global systemically important banks, both manufacturing and services activity expand in September, and the regulator for corporate Panda bonds releases details for easier issuance.

This week in Keeping Tabs: investment strategy in the age of quantitative easing and a possible Joe Biden presidency in the US, while in the UK, financial firms are still adjusting to Brexit.

Colombia will become the first country to ever draw funds from an IMF flexible credit line (FCL), the Fund’s facility for its star pupils. In these exceptional times, Colombia should ignore any stigma associated with tapping IMF funding and be applauded for healthy pragmatism.