Japan

The Bank of Japan appears to have softened its stance on the country’s banks buying foreign CLOs, reporting that credit risk in the asset class is “subdued on the whole” following a slowdown in investment in the asset class.

Leads on Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s two part dollar and euro covered bond were criticised for not being transparent with the order book update, which was expressed without giving the currency of the demand, but in the final analysis, the sale of the high yielding euro portion went better than expected.

Wholesale revenue increased in Nomura for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the most recent quarter, the bank said on Tuesday, helped by a sturdy rates business.

Argenta Spaarbank and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group were both marketing senior bonds on Tuesday, making use of the favourable backdrop in the primary market. While Sumitomo was quick to build demand for its bond, Argenta struggled to gather enough demand volume to move the spread from price thoughts.

Japanese Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), the holding company for SMBC, returned to Australian dollars on Wednesday after two years away from the currency.

Three public sector borrowers announced dollar benchmarks on Monday, rekindling the market after a quiet week.

Corporate, FIG and SSA issuers placed floating rate notes this week, pegged to Euribor, Sonia and Libor. With so many issuers coming to market, bankers are interested to see which other borrowers 'take advantage of the liquidity'.

Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel returned for its annual visit to the yen market this week to sell its largest ever Samurai.

Japan’s mature, growth-starved economy has little slack for its banks and corporations to enjoy. Expansion seems possible only through the pursuit of opportunities abroad, and as a result, Japanese borrowers are turning to the international market in unprecedented numbers. The global economy, which has its own problems of slowing growth, brings new challenges and opportunities. Lewis McLellan reports

An explosion of international issuance in yen is being accompanied by a re-evaluation of traditional routes of access into Japanese capital markets. Euroyen deals and Tokyo Pro-Bonds are rapidly establishing themselves as viable alternatives to the Samurai bond market. Tyler Davies reports.

An increase in the consumption tax rate will hit Japan’s economy, analysts warn. Alongside a strong yen and global growth fears, this is likely to push the Bank of Japan into further easing measures. With banks creaking under the strain of low rates, Japan’s central bank, under governor Haruhiko Kuroda, will have to concoct a delicate mix of stimuli. Reported by Jasper Cox, ahead of the Bank of Japan’s September meeting

A surge in international bank issuance has carried on almost uninterrupted in the yen market this year, even after the Japanese Financial Services Agency raised the bar on investments in total loss-absorbing capital (TLAC).