Morgan Stanley

High grade companies poured into the bond market this week as participants weigh up whether this is a redux of 2009’s record year or if the unprecedented central bank spending and high bank liquidity mean that this is a unique market where borrowers raise cash even if they do not really need it.

Oil firms burst into the corporate bond market on Thursday with BP, Royal Dutch Shell and OMV opening books on multi-tranche trades, as comments from US president Donald Trump sent oil prices rocketing.

Hong Kong saw a pair of block trades this week as WuXi Biologics Holdings offloaded HK$4.6bn ($599.4m) in WuXi Biologics (Cayman) stock and Viva China sold HK$1.51bn in Li Ning Co shares.

Dyson has become the first UK company to sell private placements in the past month, as the coronavirus complicates primary issuance and the market instead focuses on amendments to existing deals. Sources said the UK manufacturer succeeded because it was realistic over the price it would have to pay.

Hong Kong's AIA Group and China's Baidu reopened the Asian bond market this week, proving that investors are still willing to commit to the right credits ─ as long as they come at the right price. Morgan Davis reports.

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In spite of an equity sell-off on Wednesday morning, Portugal was warmly received when it hit the market on Wednesday, printing its largest ever single tranche deal and generating more orders than ever before. The deal should provide confidence for Ireland, which is also planning a syndication.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary capital markets activity. The North American corporate bond market funded a staggering record $194bn of investment grade issues in March while Europe has also been busy — shaking up the league tables and yielding a surprise windfall for the very largest investment banks.

WuXi Biologics Holdings has pocketed HK$4.6bn ($599m) after selling part of its stake in subsidiary WuXi Biologics (Cayman).

Hong Kong's AIA Group has reopened Asia’s bond market for other quality credits by selling a $1bn deal that offered a generous new issue premium to attract investors.

The dollar market had looked sluggish, particularly in comparison to the volumes churned out in euros, but Tuesday's $4.5bn two year from Asian Development Bank indicates the market is back in working order.

Portugal will be hoping to mirror the success of Belgium after the latter smashed records in the public sector bond market on Tuesday with the biggest ever order book for an SSA borrower in euros. Both Portugal and Belgium have announced an anticipated increase to their 2020 funding programmes as result of the Covid-19 crisis.