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The belly of the curve was the place to be this week for public sector borrowers in euros — but any other benchmarks before the end of the year are likely to be further out the maturity curve.

Nigerian loans have given an underwhelming performance this year, but deals from Ecobank, FCMB, Skye Bank and Stanbic IBTC will test the mettle of the market.

Eurogrid, the German electricity grid operator, swept through the primary bond market at pace on Tuesday with an €880m dual tranche issue that showed there was life in the long dated market.

Western Power Distribution, the UK electricity distribution network operator, kept the sterling corporate bond market’s run of form going on Wednesday with a £500m eight year issue.

Hapag-Lloyd and the banks leading its IPO are talking to key investors in the deal as they consider how to react to worsening sentiment towards container shipping stocks.

Just two and a half years after receiving a €10bn bailout from the Troika, Republic of Cyprus proved its capital markets rehabilitation is complete on Tuesday, by issuing a rare €1bn combined syndication and switch offer, writes Virginia Furness.

As overall credit market liquidity has eroded, total return swaps (TRS) are providing an alternative for market participants to access or hedge their corporate bond exposure, according to financial information services provider Markit.

Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône, the French motorways group, won a €4.9bn order book for a €500m eight year no-grow bond issue on Thursday, as investors returned in force to the primary market.

Platform Specialty Products, the Florida headquartered chemical products manufacturer, held bank meetings in London on Thursday for $1.475bn of loan facilities backing its $2.1bn acquisition of UK based chemicals provider Alent.

Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) printed a 10 year sukuk flat or even inside its curve this week, Lebanon started execution on a triple-tranche Eurobond, and other Middle East issuers joined the pipeline as momentum in the market continues to build.

The US Federal Reserve this week appeared to move closer to raising its key policy rate in December but the shift in tone drew little reaction from options and futures markets.

Gala Bingo, the retail bingo division of Gala Coral, has been bought by Caledonia Investments for £241m, using a £155m senior debt facility and a £98m cash payment.