Investors were keeping cash from the private debt markets this week, though borrowers that have a definite issuance plan have been able to continue with their strategies.

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) this week sold its largest ever benchmark as it tackled an increased funding programme that will grow further in the next few years. That means the issuer will look to bring big trades again — as well as potentially growing its presence in the privately placed MTN market.

Santander has picked up an ex-Deutsche Bank private debt banker for its MTN syndicate desk.

The European Union will look to return to the private placement market for the first time since July 2017 to kick-off its funding programme next year.

MTN dealers are “hopeful rather than optimistic” that in January issuers will avoid what they said had been a trend in 2018 of waiting for market conditions to improve before bringing deals, then shelving trades as conditions worsen.

A French public sector borrower has appointed HSBC as sole arranger for its Euro Medium Term Note programme, as it prepares to make its debut in the bond markets.

Supranationals found heavy demand from investors for privately placed taps of outstanding dollar and euro notes over the past week, with Asian Development Bank printing particularly heavy volumes.

Public sector borrowers are taking different approaches to the MTN market as they look to see out the rest of the funding year.

The Autonomous Community of Andalusia is aiming to revisit the public and private bond markets next year, according to the region’s minister of economy and finance.

Deutsche Bank has grown its private placement desk after making two hires from rival banks.

South American development bank Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) could turn to the public bond markets to begin its pre-funding for 2019, having issued its largest ever private placement last week to bring its 2018 financing programme close to completion.

Spain's Fondo de Amortización del Déficit Eléctrico (FADE) will look to the private market to complete its 2018 funding programme, following the sale of its second and final syndication of the year.