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August is on course to become 2015’s busiest month for bank medium term note issuance in sterling, as cash rich investors are drawn to positive spreads over quarterly Libor.

Last year's launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect and the technical challenges that followed it highlight the need for continued harmonisation of market practices, according to Omgeo, a post-trade processing firm.

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation has priced a S$500m ($356m) perpetual non call five, the bank’s first additional tier one (AT1) offering. Deal-hungry investors came in strong for the Lion City’s first AT1 in almost two years.

Ukrainian food producer Kernel has signed its second syndicated loan of the year, for $230m to support its grain export business.

The equity capital markets are now well and truly in summer apathy, with even block trade activity down to nought.

Public sector borrowers are flying out of the traps ahead of schedule, as a clear window allowed a quartet of issuers to bring deals this week.

International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) provided a breath of fresh air to Asia's bond market this week thanks to its $450m perpetual deal. The lack of issuance this year from Philippine borrowers worked in the company’s favour, with the trade opening up an opportunity for more perps to follow.

London syndicate desks already have new mandates in hand for the restart of euro FIG supply after the summer, which some bankers say could start in earnest as early as next week.

Europe’s corporate bond market is catching its breath before an expected power dash of deals, but the loan market continues to bring deals and leveraged borrowers are gearing up for a big push on acquisitions.

The €200m loan for Turkish automaker Tofas is backed by the Italian export credit agency (SACE), a spokesperson for the firm told GlobalCapital.

DCM bankers' August advice to ignore volatility and print seems to have appealed to Peru, which launched a benchmark 12 year bond. CEEMEA remains bereft of deals but, based on Emolument data, emerging market debt bankers are not struggling for cash.

The idea of China using its own currency to buy and sell commodities on the global market attracts plenty of scepticism. But the Gold Connect that launched in Hong Kong last month and a new trading platform in the Shanghai free trade zone (FTZ) show that China is serious about its plans to make the RMB into a global commodity currency.