HSBC

Nationwide will be the second UK building society to issue in euros this week. Leeds Building Society tapped the market on Tuesday, though its paper has seen shaky trading since then.

Vitol seeks Asian acquisition loan – KrisEnergy drills $100m – All aboard Ethiopian Railways

Singapore’s sovereign investment arm, Temasek Holdings, has bought a 24.95% stake in AS Watson Holdings, the retail division of Hutchinson Whampoa, for HK$44bn ($5.7bn), pushing plans for a Hong Kong IPO off the table.

China Construction Bank (Asia) priced its debut dollar issue on Tuesday night in a market that was digesting a spate of negative China headlines, including a bank run and a string of poor economic data.

Noble Group, a supplier of agricultural and energy products, metals and minerals, hit the market on March 24 with a $1.35bn 364-day revolving loan facility, led by an 18-member arranging group.

Chinese company Hilong Holding has returned to the market for its second ever syndicated loan, opening up a $80m four year deal to lenders.

Right Lane, a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Legend Holdings, has returned to the market for a bullet loan equivalent to $300m, managing to shave off more than 100bp in costs since its last fundraising.

Emerging market sovereigns could take a close look at the Norwegian kroner in the near future, according to syndicate bankers. The Slovak Republic recently sold its debut deal in the currency, a Nkr3.4bn ($562.8m) dual tranche trade.

Brian Ford, previously head of sales for Canada’s cash management and payments unit relocated from Toronto to Seoul to take up the role of head for the same division in the North Asian country.

Bond and equity activity slumped in the first quarter of this year with both posting double digit falls in trade volume. However there are some bright spots with offshore renminbi activity reaching a record and technology stocks in vogue.

Volkswagen Financial Services nipped back into the bond market today, the very next day after its €1.5bn 3.5 and eight year transaction yesterday. This time, it wanted a sterling deal.

Euro benchmarks from supranational borrowers that traditionally fund in dollars could be a feature of next quarter’s market, after the Asian Development Bank impressed with its debut benchmark in euros this week.