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Deviation from the norm always draws out the naysayers. So when Gemdale (Asia) Investment issued a tap just two days after it priced a Rmb750m ($122m) three year bond, critics wasted no time in decrying the tactic. But as the issuer was looking to get the funding it needed without upsetting secondary markets, such flexibility should be applauded.

Loans bankers pride themselves on taking a long term perspective. A lending relationship is for life, not just for an open deal window. So the crisis in the Ukraine has led to nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders and a declaration of business as usual in the loan market. This is a worrying sign.

Russian Railways’ lead managers last week claimed waiting a month for a favourable fall in rates before executing resulted in the lowest yield the company could have achieved on its €500m nine year bond. But that contradicts what bankers have often recommended as prudent bond market behaviour. Others should be cautious of following its example.

In a fit of generosity, I’d asked a couple of broker pals over for dinner. TaiTai was fussing over the chef, who was fussing over dinner. The organic salmon we’d flown in from Scotland hadn’t arrived and the Taittinger was corked.

When General Electric issued a debut $500m sukuk five years ago it did not receive a great deal of acclaim. But with the company considering another potential Islamic deal later this year, neither it — nor other rumoured western first time borrowers such as Total — should fear for a bad result this time round.

Choosing your friends has never been tougher for issuers looking to tap Hong Kong’s IPO market. But it is time for firms to smarten up and master the subtle art of relationship management if they are going to use a “friends and family” IPO to the fullest.

The deadly clashes between protesters and police in Kiev have made a country already off-limits to many lenders the risk/reward equivalent of tossing cash into a black hole. The impact this will have on Ukraine’s corporates has the potential to be devastating.

When the Central Bank of Russia redefined the point of non-viability language for subordinated debt late last year, investors won a rare and important battle. However, the new language removes much of the functionality of subordinated debt and takes away any discretion the CBR previously had in triggering a bail-in. Many structuring specialists are now wondering whether the CBR had given too much away and made it too easy for investors.

Telefónica's refi oversubscribed — Galliford Try signs RCF

Not only have I spent most of the year so far suffering innumerable bores, who refused to drink with me throughout January because they had "gone dry" (too right they had), but I have a niggling feeling that this dry spot is beginning to get the better of people.

Pricing is expected shortly for Shui On Land’s first dim sum bond on, after final price guidance was announced on Wednesday afternoon.

After announcing initial guidance for a dim sum bond on Tuesday morning, China Properties switched to a dollar deal on Wednesday morning in response to market feedback.