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Bookrunners on Dubai-based payments company Network International will close books on the IPO a day early, and have increased the size of the offering, after receiving huge demand for stock.

The executive chairman of Nomura’s Middle East and North Africa business is among those set to leave the firm as part of a big restructuring. Senior bankers in EMEA capital solutions and convertibles are at risk of redundancy

Data modelling firm Simudyne, which uses an innovative approach to simulating market scenarios, has said its technology will help banks execute trades, as different asset classes grapple with algorithmic trading and risk predictions. The company has closed a new round of fundraising led by Barclays.

Amir Hoveyda, UBS’s global head of debt capital markets, is stepping down from his job at the firm.

UniCredit will seek to ensure it hits its 2019 financial targets before going ahead with a bid for Germany’s Commerzbank, if the latter’s talks with Deutsche Bank collapse.

The European Stability Mechanism is spearheading a plan to create a new digital platform for launching public sector bonds in euros. The system, which ESM wants to launch in 2020, is named the European Distribution of Debt Instruments (EDDI). It could end up replacing some of the functions of investment banks and clearing houses.

Smaller financial institution issuers have been welcomed back to the European bond market in recent weeks, after their hopes of raising deeply subordinated capital were dashed by turbulent market conditions in late 2018. But they are not taking chances this time, seeking comfort in using the support of just one investment bank rather than a group of bookrunners.

Indications of interest for Saudi Aramco’s planned bond issue were understood to have topped $15bn on Thursday morning in London, with three days left of the roadshow still to run. Contrary to press reports, investors have been told on the roadshow that the cash raised will not be used directly to fund the acquisition of Saudi Basic Industries Corp, as that is not expected to take place for another six to 12 months, writes Francesca Young.

The Arab Republic of Egypt on Thursday printed a €2bn dual tranche euro deal with a massive negative new issue premium of 22bp on the longer bond — one of the largest ever negative concessions on an EM issue. The deal takes Standard Chartered to the top of Dealogic’s league table of CEEMEA bonds, though it is a title to be only briefly held as the Saudi Aramco jumbo bond is expected next week, which other banks are arranging.

Russian equity capital markets are red hot again, after almost two years in the cold, with supply being driven by some of Russia’s most powerful oligarchs. As investors warm to Russian equities, more of these billionaires are set to monetise some of their holdings, writes Sam Kerr.

The European Investment Bank and Flemish Community brought sustainability-linked transactions on Thursday, with investors piling in despite a busy market elsewhere.

Crédit Mutuel Arkéa sold a seven year non-preferred senior note on Thursday, in a market where investors are thirsty for supply. The €500m deal attracted €2bn of orders — demand that even surprised the arrangers, given that funds are still ignoring growing risks around a no-deal Brexit.