Latin America

Chilean government-owned copper miner Codelco raised $2bn of 10 year notes on Wednesday in a deal that provoked debate about the size of the new issue premium but was unanimously considered a positive for the LatAm market.

Standard & Poor’s put the Brazilian sovereign into sub-investment grade territory late on Wednesday in a move that came sooner than most had expected but had already been accepted as inevitable.

General Shopping Brasil has exercised its right to defer the payment of interest on its $150m 12% perpetual subordinated notes, meeting the expectations of credit analysts.

Bond prices in the secondary market, alongside recent analyst reports, suggest a belief that Venezuela will meet its immediate debt obligations. But the prospects for next year appear murkier.

Two Fibras — the Mexican version of the US real estate investment trusts (Reits) — are considering issuing dollar bonds in September, said bankers, finally providing some visible potential supply to LatAm’s bare pipeline.

Mexican real estate investment trust — or REIT — Fibra Terrafina could become the first borrower from Latin America to bring much-needed bond supply in September as it turns to international markets for the first time.

After “particularly ugly” second quarter results, according to one bank’s credit analyst, Moody’s confirmed on Monday that Mexican construction group Empresas ICA’s turnaround was short-lived by placing its B2 rating on negative outlook.

Credit Suisse has named Jorge Eduardo Díaz Barros as Chilean country head after hiring the banker from JP Morgan.

Even the strongest companies are not safe. When Mexican state oil company Pemex — alongside the Mexican sovereign — was awarded an A3 rating in 2014 the talk in the market was of the country’s energy reform helping it to bridge the gap between emerging and developed markets.

Brazilian low-cost airline Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes became the latest high yield issuer from Latin America to be downgraded on Monday as recession in the region’s largest economy hit passenger demand.

The brutal sell-off that afflicted Brazilian bonds in July appears to have slowed somewhat amid the low trading volumes of August, though economic bad news and political troubles show no sign of abating.

Though this month has been one the quietest Augusts in the memory of many Latin America bankers, Peru was correct to anticipate US rate rises by issuing its first new dollar benchmark since 2010 on Tuesday, they said.