JP Morgan

The first deal of the September rush set an impressive bar for a rush of borrowing from its peers in the commodities sector. Russia's Severstal pulled off an $800m five year bond priced flat to its curve, achieving the lowest yield ever for a corporate from the region.

One of the world’s largest companies made its debut in the yen bond market last week, as Berkshire Hathaway placed ¥430bn ($4bn) of multi-tranche debt. With the Japanese government yield curve offering sub-zero returns for anything under 15 years, the six tranche deal offered investors a chance to earn a yield pick-up, according to bankers away from the deal.

Severstal, a Russian steel manufacturer, hit screens on Monday morning with a five year dollar benchmark.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) hit screens on Monday morning with initial price thoughts for a new 10 year green Kangaroo bond. The trade follows a busy week for SSA Kangaroo issuance at the long end of the curve, driven by Japanese demand according to one banker.

Two new corporate bond issues hit the market on Friday, wrapping up the busiest week of the year, in which nearly €22bn of new notes have been printed. Despite the frantic activity, investors have been willing to lend, though companies may have had to pay larger new issue premiums.

A new sustainable finance product, which has the potential for huge growth, was launched on Thursday when Enel, the Italian electricity and gas company, issued the first bond in which the interest rate can be altered during the term of the debt, based on the borrower’s sustainability performance.

Indian renewables company ReNew Power took home $300m from a bond that appealed to a niche, but captive, investor base.

Apple and Walt Disney starred in the US corporate bond market this week, as the market roared back from the Labor Day holiday with a huge stack of deals that bankers said had broken the record for a single week in the US corporate and financial institution bond market.

Rating: Aa1/AA+

Rating: Aa1//AAA

The frenzy of investment grade corporate bond issuance in Europe intensified on Thursday, when eight companies came to market, issuing a total of €6.6bn of paper in euros. That brought the total for the first four days of this week to over €20bn. Despite the heavy supply, issuers have found sufficient demand to support their notes.

Emerging market issuers are moving to print in the bond markets as investors’ desperation for positive yield hits fever pitch. With some borrowers looking to refinance maturities falling due in 2020 and 2021, a pivot towards bonds from loans, and Gulf Cooperation Council sovereigns rumoured to be making moves, some bankers say this year could challenge the record for annual CEEMEA volume.