Santander

The financial institutions bond market has absorbed an enormous volume of supply over the past month, putting a strain on trading levels for outstanding securities. FIG bankers nonetheless expect that spreads could start to tighten once more in the coming weeks, amid a calmer flow of new issuance.

Northern Powergrid, a rare issuer in the UK market, issued a 40 year sterling bond on Wednesday that found a strong reception, in a week that has proved patchy for issuers in the currency.

Europe’s high grade corporate bond market maintained its steady flow of new issues on Wednesday, with Infineon Technologies heading into the euro market for a dual tranche hybrid, while BMW drove by in sterling and more names populated the pipeline.

Crédit Agricole and Banque Fédérative du Cedit Mutuel had contrasting responses for preferred senior bonds in the sterling market on Wednesday, with the French banks deciding to hit the market as members of the UK parliament returned to their seats.

Verallia, the French maker of bottles and jars, has begun bookbuilding for its €962m IPO, which will be the largest flotation in France more than two years.

China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) is seeking lenders’ consent to amend terms of a $5.5bn dual-tranche loan sealed last year, as it undergoes a debt restructuring, according to bankers.

Wells Fargo hasn't wasted time in the bond market this week. It launched a euro senior bond on Wednesday, a day after raising sterling debt. Concurrently, Spanish lender Kutxabank was marketing a senior non-preferred bond in euros, its debut in the format.

No less than three dual tranche corporate bond deals hit the market on Tuesday, as BMW, Abertis, and AbbVie jostled for the attention of investors with €2bn, €1.5bn and €1.4bn deals.

Swedish agency Kommuninvest doubled the size of its June 2023 green bond on Tuesday through a Skr3bn ($309.8m) tap. The tap was issued with a negative yield — rare for the Swedish krona market — and is the issuer’s first negative yielding green print since October 2016.

Corporate bond issuers made full use of the last few days before the European Central Bank's much-anticipated announcement on monetary policy on Thursday. Despite the hectic activity of the past two weeks, investors were still oversubscribing deals two or three times.

The frenzy of investment grade corporate bond issuance in Europe intensified on Thursday, when eight companies came to market, issuing a total of €6.6bn of paper in euros. That brought the total for the first four days of this week to over €20bn. Despite the heavy supply, issuers have found sufficient demand to support their notes.

Five new corporate bond issues including a €3bn issue from AT&T hit the market on Wednesday, after Danaher had completed its €6.25bn deal on Tuesday, leaving room for more companies to borrow.