Greece
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National Bank of Greece (NBG) is poised to issue the first post-crisis Greek covered bond, having drawn confidence from the blowout reception Santander Totta won for its €1bn 10 year this week — the longest Portuguese deal since 2010. Bill Thornhill reports. -
UK telecoms group Virgin Media was in the market for a £200m add-on of its 2024 receivable financing notes on Monday. By Wednesday, it had sold £450m of the deal, proving that demand is not restricted to the high yield debt market for euros, where three more deals were under way.
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A full €2.3bn of bond offerings from seven borrowers hit screens on Monday in the European high yield bond market, following last week's more than €3bn of new bonds despite fund inflows turning negative.
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National Bank of Greece (NBG) and another Greek issuer have confirmed they are looking at issuing the first Greek covered bonds since the sovereign debt crisis, reports Bill Thornhill.
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The scores are in. The BondMarker voters have delivered their verdict on Greece's long-awaited return to capital markets and on FMS Wertmanagement's five year dollar benchmark.
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Greece’s comeback bond this week should build on its already strong secondary performance, said SSA bankers, paving the way for the sovereign to bring more deals before its scheduled bail-out exit in August 2018. Bankers were quick to point out that while the deal resembled its last comeback trade in April 2014, much has changed since — including its cost of borrowing.
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A hedge fund manager who bought some of Greece’s comeback €3bn five year bonds on Tuesday believes that the paper will trade “like a rates instrument” rather than credit, despite the bonds being marketed at an absolute yield level more akin to the high yield corporate market.
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Greece’s return to bond issuance on Tuesday drew praise from bankers across the SSA sector, who are now eagerly waiting to see whether the book — much smaller than its previous comeback bond in April 2014 — trumps that older deal for quality.
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Some may question whether Greece should have waited until after the summer before bringing its second comeback bond in three years, but the issuer and the banks should be applauded for a job well done. Now the focus must turn to debt relief.
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Greece is set to make its much rumoured return to the debt markets this week, bringing a new five year bond alongside a switch and tender offer for its original comeback issue, an April 2019 sold three years ago. Bankers away from the trade expect the trade to go well, despite coming just as the summer slowdown is set to start.
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The European Financial Stability Facility is set to enjoy enviable conditions when it comes to the euro market next week — during which the Greek sovereign could also make an appearance. Demand at the long end has been particularly strong due to a yield spike last week, which KfW and SCNF Réseau have since taken advantage of.
