ICBC

Mizuho Bank opened the Japanese Panda bond market on January 12, sharing the title of first issuer in the category with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). But instead of aiming for a blockbuster transaction, Mizuho treaded carefully – raising just Rmb500m ($77m) from the debut deal.

Chinese issuers Peking University Founder Group, Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co, Geely Automobile Holdings and Jinjiang International Holding are meeting investors this week ahead of planned dollar and euro bond sales.

Two issuers from the Guangxi province of China, Guangxi Financial Investment Group Co and Guangxi Communications Investment Group Corp, are hitting the dollar bond market for funds.

Chinese city commercial bank Bank of Shanghai Co priced a rare bond backed by a standby letter of credit (SBLC) on Wednesday, seeing an over five times covered book but leaving a few basis points on the table.

Chinese issuers BOSC International, a local government financing vehicle from Henan, Lai Fung Holdings and Hilong Holding are in the market with new deals on a busy day for issuance.

ICBC Standard Bank has appointed Gary Simpson, a former HSBC banker, as chief operating officer of global markets, a newly created role.

Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), Bank of Shanghai subsidiary BOSC International Company and financial services firm Guangxi Financial Investment Group Co are testing investor appetite for new bonds.

Investment grade corporate bond market players only had to wait one day for the first new deals of 2018. Renault and BMW both brought new paper to market on Wednesday, selling a total of €2.75bn of bonds with little premium.

Chinese regional lender Bank of Gansu Co has covered the books for its Hong Kong IPO, which could raise HK$6.1bn ($783.9m) at the top of guidance, according to a banker on the deal.

Mizuho Bank is preparing to sell the first ever Panda bond by a Japanese issuer, after picking three local banks to manage the deal.

Three Chinese issuers hit the market on Tuesday with dollar deals, but each saw a very different outcome. One company sealed a successful trade, another locked up a private placement style bond, while the third was forced to pull its transaction.

Three Chinese issuers hit the debt market on Tuesday, launching dollar deals. While the pace of new issuance is beginning to slow down, there appears to be no end in sight for the primary bond market.