Santander

Tendam, a fashion retailer, is the latest Spanish company to get syndicated loan backing from state-owned Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), as sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic lean on state support.

Siemens, the German machinery maker, found plenty of demand for a multi-tranche bond issue on Wednesday, though the inclusion of a two year fixed portion strongly suggests that floating rate notes have become unpopular among corporate issuers.

Tendam, a fashion retailer, is the latest Spanish company to get syndicated loan backing from the state owned Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO), as sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic lean on state support.

Severn Trent, the UK water utility, achieved blowout demand on Tuesday for its sustainable bond, as bankers say the focus in the high grade market is shifting from crisis mode back to socially responsible debt.

Lloyds Bank decided to tender some of its covered bonds in three major currencies this week in what it called a “prudent approach” towards its liquidity base. The move could prompt more issuance in the asset class this year in an effort to refinance some of the tendered securities, but it could also decrease liquidity at the short end of the curve, given the cheaper refinancing alternatives open to banks.

European banks are expected to hit the dollar market in force over the coming weeks as they look to take advantage of an extended rally in spreads.

A Pln700m ($168.9m) selldown of stock in Play Communications, the Polish telecommunications company, has shown that investor appetite towards some emerging market stocks is still alive, despite the asset class being hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Italy’s Ferrari in euros and the UK’s Southern Water Services in sterling won strong demand for new bonds on Wednesday, but the slowdown in issuance has got some syndicate officials wondering if the market is already winding down for summer.

Spain’s Air Europa Lineas Aereas has signed a Covid-19 related crisis loan, becoming the third airline from the country in the last month to get support in the syndicated loan market from the state owned Instituto de Crédito Oficial.

Some of Europe’s largest banks have taken large chunks of syndicated loan market share in EMEA this year, as the pandemic has prompted some institutions to flex their muscles and others to retreat.

French covered bond issuer Compagnie de Financement Foncier (CFF) ventured into unexplored territory at the end of last week to print the longest ever covered bond.

The coronavirus pandemic will test the complex relationship between bank loans and the fabled ancillary business supposed to make it all worthwhile. Some banks have provided heaps of extra cash for European clients to keep them alive and it has changed the shape of the loan market, with some banks ramping up market share. But will companies return the love when the time comes?