North America

MasterCard ventured into volatile markets on Tuesday to print its first bond since February 2018, but investors paid the price as spreads widened.

US utilities continued to dominate dollar corporate bond issuance this week, as defensive names piled into the market before trade tensions slammed the brakes on supply on Wednesday. But issuers fought back on Thursday.

A quartet of public sector borrowers placed paper in the Australian dollar market this week. Two European SSAs priced sustainable and climate awareness bonds: the European Investment Bank priced its third climate awareness Kangaroo on Tuesday, while Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten brought its sustainability bond programme back to the Aussie market on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a pair of agencies raised funding in Australian dollars on Thursday: Export Development Canada and Eurofima both tapped Kangaroos.

A rough day for the corporate bond market on Wednesday did not bother Illinois Tool Works, which pressed ahead with its three tranche euro bond issue anyway. Focused on the yields, it did not mind paying higher spreads. Bankers said this was typical of the continuing wave of Reverse Yankee issuers.

A pair of agencies raised funding in Australian dollars on Thursday: Export Development Canada and Eurofima both tapped Kangaroos.

Chinese e-commerce and tech behemoth Alibaba Group Holding is planning its second listing, which will most likely be on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Amid uncertainty and volatility from the US-China trade war, the move is being hailed as a long-overdue homecoming. Gina Lee reports.

Illinois Tool Works issued what could be the only European corporate bond of the week today, as the market takes what could be a useful rest after a week marked by a touch of indigestion and some jitters about international politics and economics.

Equity markets turned volatile again this week as trade tensions between the US and China escalated further, making accelerated equity sales more difficult.

JH Educational Technology will hit the road for its Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing after it completes investor education this Friday.

Chinese online tutorial platform GSX Techedu is fully covered for its listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) in Canada has increased covered bond issuance limits which should improve issuance flexibility among Canada’s smaller banks — leading to possible issuance from names like Equitable Bank among others.

Online education platform GSX Techedu has launched the deal roadshow for its New York Stock Exchange IPO, in which it is targeting proceeds of up to $227.7m.