Latin America

South American sovereign Suriname is looking to raise $150m of 18-month debt in bond markets to fund the transfer of a dam that the government believes can significantly improve public finances. But the issuer’s only outstanding international bond is tumbling in secondary markets, say investors.

Some Brazilian bankers may be dumbfounded that their country and its highly unpopular president is considered a safe haven, but hope that Latin America’s sleeping giant is on the cusp of an upswing is driving demand for the country’s issuers amid social unrest elsewhere in the continent.

Mexican cement company Cemex attracted nearly $4bn of orders on the way to a first dollar deal in three years on Tuesday. Bankers said the company’s active debt management was gaining a strong following.

Just two days after completing the country’s largest ever international bond issue, Costa Rica’s finance ministry said it would seek approval for a further $4.5bn of issuance once the new minister takes office at the end of the month.

South American development bank Corporación Andina de Fomento said that 61% of orders for its inaugural green bond in public markets, issued on Wednesday, had come from environmental, social and governance (ESG) and green portfolios.

South American development bank Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) said that 61% of orders for its inaugural green bond in public markets, issued on Wednesday, had come from ESG and green portfolios as the issuer raised €750m of euros.

Brazilian lender Itaú raised $750m of tier two notes on Wednesday, its first ever issue of Basel III-compliant tier two bonds in the international market.

Mexican cement company Cemex’s debt management continues to earn it strong pricing as its first dollar deal in three years landed inside even where some bankers on the trade were expecting.

Central American sovereign Costa Rica left some analysts wondering where they would find value in the market after tightening pricing well inside pre-deal expectations.

Emerging markets issuers are pumping out mandates, with the buy-side showing little sign yet of closing shop for the year, but investors are not throwing cash at everything.

Mexican retailer Grupo Famsa has pushed out the early-bird deadline on a distressed debt exchange, saying it wants to give bondholders more time to analyse its proposal.

Brazilian steel producer Gerdau could return to the international bond market this week for the first time in over two years, looking to take advantage of strong performance in its bonds and positive sentiment surrounding Brazil.