NatWest Markets

WPP, the UK advertising group, launched its first bond of the year on Monday, hitting the market without warning and raising €750m. The strong reception to the deal suggested investors were not worried about buying into a company in a cyclical industry, despite Europe’s economic weakness, nor into a UK name, in the week that Scotland may vote to break up the union.

Alllen Rad has left RBS where he had been head of covered bond trading since 2008.

Cross Keys Homes, a housing association based in Peterborough, issued a £150m bond on Monday that was marketed specifically to environmental, social and governance-driven investors.

Few have been more vocal in their opposition to Scottish independence than the country's own banks. Royal Bank of Scotland may share a name with the country, but that seems to be an end to its patriotism. Not surprising when banks domiciled in an independent Scotland would have to contend with higher risk weightings on their assets and an inflated cost of funding.

The covered bond market for sterling FRNs picked up on Monday as Barclays priced the largest ever deal in the currency and Danske Bank priced a benchmark. The two borrowers follow Nordea Eiendomskreditt, which attracted robust demand last week.

Europe’s corporate bond market delivered on bankers’ and investors’ hopes this week, as issuers belted out €13.2bn of deals, pushing this week — by a €20m margin — into the top 10 of the market’s busiest weeks ever.

UK building materials distributor Travis Perkins on Monday set the final yield at 4.375% on its debut £250m seven year bond, just as the sterling bond market braced itself for the impact of a potential Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum.

Total priced its biggest ever bond on Thursday, a €2.5bn dual tranche deal that included the French borrower’s first 15 year issue in euros since 2009.

Energias de Portugal, the Portuguese electricity and gas company, issued its largest public bond since March 2010 on Thursday, after attracting more than €2.7bn of demand from across Europe.

Pelindo III eyes maiden dollar bond — Indonesia's MPM seeks debut — Tata Comms looks to tackle dollar inaugural — FWD picks five for roadshows — IFC mandates three for dim sum — Honghua seeks international debut

Glencore, the Swiss-based commodities trading and mining group, successfully sold a €700m bond on Tuesday, as Europe’s corporate new issue market fell quiet after Monday’s €7.3bn fireworks.

Royal Bank of Scotland announced the new structure for its European debt capital markets business today, following a review since April by Richard Bartlett, its head.