Finnfund sold its debut bond this week and could come back for more in 2014 after finding strong demand for its paper and credit story.

New opportunities for issuers of dollar callable zeros could open up in the coming months, with Taiwanese life insurance companies — the main buyer of the product — tipped to look overseas to combat low domestic interest rates.

Czech Export Bank, which priced a Kc1.8bn ($93.4m) private placement this week, is preparing to sell a floating rate note in euros next month, a treasury official has told EuroWeek.

Finland’s Municipality Finance is aiming to launch its first-ever three year fixed rate dollar benchmark amid the rush of issuance expected in September. Fellow Nordic agency Kommuninvest, which also has another dollar benchmark to come this year, plans to avoid the rush by waiting until October before bringing its deal.

Supranational and agency borrowers are queueing up to supply socially responsible investors with ethical products once bond markets reopen in the autumn, helping to push the asset class further into the mainstream. At least two SSA borrowers and possibly one corporate credit are eyeing debut socially responsible investment (SRI) deals for the final third of 2013, write Craig McGlashan and Nathan Collins.

Icelandic renewable-energy company Landsvirkjun sold its first bonds without a government guarantee this week and is keeping an eye out for further opportunities to build its unguaranteed presence.

Euro funding agencies found their sterling commercial paper in heavy demand this week, as a favourable euro/sterling basis swap helped the issuers print £2.7bn by 12pm London time on Thursday — adding to what has already been a record breaking year for public sector borrowers in the currency.

Zambia is set to become the latest country to benefit from Washington supranationals’ diversification into local and offshore African currencies, after the International Finance Corporation became the first foreign issuer to be approved to place Zambian kwacha bonds on the domestic market. Meanwhile, the World Bank returned to the Ugandan shilling market.

European Investment Bank on Wednesday sold a Climate Awareness Bond in Swedish krona, privately placing a seven year floating rate note. Climate awareness bonds are becoming popular with Swedish buyers, who have been providing an increasing share of the investor base of such issues.

KfW is looking for more non-core currency opportunities after returning to the Swedish krona market for the first time in a year this week. But dealers said it might struggle as investors attempt to adapt to a “new normal” on pricing.

European sovereigns and agencies have been enjoying heavy demand for dollar private placements in a variety of formats this week — and this is expected to last over the coming months.

The Kingdoms of the Netherlands and Sweden are looking towards the money markets to tackle increased funding requirements for 2013.