HSBC

HSBC reigns supreme for the fourth year running as the best overall provider of offshore RMB products and services, in Asiamoney’s largest and most competitive Offshore Renminbi (RMB) Poll. The UK-headquartered bank tops the poll as voted by clients from around the world.

Armenia sold $500m of 10 year notes on Thursday while simultaneously completing a buyback of its 6% 2020s at par.

Deutsche Lufthansa, the German airline company, has announced its intention to issue its first hybrid bond, in the same week that strikes forced it to cancel hundreds of flights.

State owned enterprise Beijing Capital Group (BCG) is planning to issue its first ever dollar bond having scheduled a series of investor meetings starting on March 23.

Indonesian tower company Solusi Tunas Pratama is in the market for a triple tranche loan to take out what is left of a bridge it sealed with five banks in December last year.

Bulgaria stormed back into the market with a giant triple trancher on Thursday — the largest ever euro-denominated bond from an emerging market sovereign.

The hot demand in Europe's credit markets has already brought a stream of US investment grade borrowers to issue in euros. This week, four US high yield issuers rated single-B joined the caravan, writes Victor Jimenez.

European Central Bank’s limited options for hitting its €60bn/month public sector purchase programme target could be made easier as a new agency nears a debut deal.

Nationwide and Caixabank launched the only two covered bonds this week. Despite both issuers getting the funding they wanted, the final outcome was poor in comparison to past standards.

Emirates NBD issued a €550m seven year bond on Tuesday, a breakthrough for Middle East banks in the euro market. But bankers said they are uncertain whether other issuers will now follow.

AG Hybrid Financing, an international unit of Belgium insurer Ageas, is looking to tender its sole remaining perpetual subordinated bond, while Ageas's Belgian unit AG Insurance has mandated banks to arrange investor meetings for a Solvency II compliant bond.

Swiss toilet maker Geberit issued a €500m six year bond on Thursday, as part of the long term funding of its Skr1.29bn (Sfr1.21bn) acquisition of Finland’s Sanitec.