Middle East

Turkey’s president Recep Erdoğan delivered a shock to investors on Monday, announcing a cabinet reshuffle in which he removed market favourites Mehmet Simsek, who was deputy prime minister, and Naci Agbal, minister of finance. He appointed his son-in-law Berat Albayrak, who previously served as energy minister, as finance minister.

Turkish banks have enough foreign currency liquidity to withstand a prolonged capital market shut out, according to ING. While this remains unlikely, small signs of deterioration have begun to show in terms for the biggest source of FX funding in the country’s banking system - syndicated loans.

Bahraini sovereign bonds fell victim to “malicious rumours” this week after they took a further battering following headlines that Lazard had been appointed as an adviser to the country. The firm, which advises on debt restructuring among other things, was in fact appointed in early May and has been advising the country on its economy for several months, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. Virginia Furness and Michael Turner report.

Bahrain is no closer to accessing the capital markets for additional funding following its support package from its Gulf neighbours agreed last week, according to local investors. And nor is the appointment of Lazard as an advisor to the country seen as a precursor to debt restructuring.

A new wave of liquidity and price crunching could hit Bahrain’s loan market once details of the country’s bailout from its GCC neighbours emerge, according to lenders from the region.

EA Partners II, the structured high yield bonds backed by loans to several airlines which are partners of Etihad, announced a note event of default on Friday, thanks to the low bids it received for loans to Air Berlin and Alitalia, both of which collapsed last year.

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s five year CDS spread has plummeted as investors’ fears of the country’s inability to meet the repayment of its $750m November 2018 sukuk began to recede after a statement of support from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. But analysts and syndicate officials are being clear that this is only the first step to Bahrain regaining access to the capital markets.

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s five year CDS spread has plummeted as investors’ fears of the country’s inability to meet the repayment of its $750m November 2018 sukuk began to recede after a statement of support from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Factors internal and external to the emerging markets are this week combining to stymie new issuance.

The resounding victory of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in this weekend’s presidential election has driven Turkish equities even lower, as concerns rise over the overheating economy. But the president could turn bears into bulls if he stabilises the economy, and some investors will jump at the chance to buy cheap Turkish equities.

Mobile network operator Zain Iraq has signed a $269m funding package from multilateral and commercial banks, as international financing begins creeping back into the war-ravaged country.

The Islamic Development Bank has been meeting investors and banks in Europe to explore the possibility of launching its first public sukuk issue in euros. A labelled green sukuk might follow.