JP Morgan

Vedanta Resources has become the first Indian high yield issuer this year, raking in $1bn from a 5.5 year transaction. A strong rally in its outstanding bonds, combined with a turnaround in both the company’s credit and the commodities industry, ensured tight pricing and a successful outcome.

A trio of issuers brought deals across the short end of the dollar curve on Wednesday, adding to what one SSA syndicate head described as the “ideal January”. Supply looks to have dimmed for now, with no deals on screen for Thursday and Chinese New Year holidays next week likely to halt benchmark issuance, but bankers believe conditions are so hot that arbitrage deals or floating rate notes could still break through.

Deal after deal has hit screens in euros this week as issuers from all across the public sector spectrum printed in maturities from five to 30 years.

Agribusiness Kernel proved the right credit to bring Ukrainian corporates in from the cold on Tuesday. After a rough ride of corporate restructurings, the inaugural issuer was able to garner the confidence and trust of investors to print $500m.

Egypt scored $4bn with its well timed, tightly priced dollar bond on Tuesday. The success of the deal was a function of both the strength of the market and the positive steps the Egyptian government has taken under its deal with the IMF.

Corporate bond issuers are still coming to the euro market, but at a slower pace than in the past fortnight — perhaps a good thing, as signs of indigestion began to creep into the secondary market last week, and some new issues traded weakly.

In a relatively quiet week for live equity deals, Novartis, one of Europe’s largest pharmaceutical companies, has said it is considering an IPO or spin-off of its eye care division, and a real estate investment trust announced the year’s first London IPO of significant size.

Vedanta Resources has become the first Indian high yield issuer this year, raking in $1bn from a 5.5 year transaction. A strong rally in its outstanding bonds, combined with a turnaround in both the company’s credit and the commodities industry, ensured tight pricing and a successful outcome.

India is set to welcome its first international green bond of the year, as Jain Irrigation Systems opened books for an up to $250m transaction.

Public sector borrowers are staying focused on the belly of the dollar curve, with a pair of issuers lined up for Wednesday. Demand at that part of the curve shows no sign of letting up, with two issuers out in fives on Tuesday — one of which was able to increase the size of its issue from its initial target.

The UK Debt Management Office broke its record book size on Tuesday for the second time in three months, as it also enjoyed a healthy showing from investors outside the country.

VodafoneZiggo obtained the go-ahead from leveraged loan investors on Tuesday to increase the size of its refinancing deal by more than €2bn while cutting margins.