Saudi Arabia

Ever since it emerged that Saudi Aramco was considering a public listing, equity capital market specialists have been trembling at the potential for the largest IPO in history. Such a deal could also transform the Saudi exchange, finally bringing a rush of foreign investment into the country’s stocks.

Equity capital market banks will love an IPO of Saudi Aramco, or parts of it, if one happens. But getting there is going to be arduous and could disrupt other business this year. The best thing for the market would be a quick and clear-cut process. Sadly, bankers say that is unlikely.

Saudi Aramco and China Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec) are in talks for a new money loan for the Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Co (Yasref), according to bankers.

Saudi Arabia gave equity capital market bankers hungry for mega-deals something to look forward to on an otherwise bleak midwinter day of trading on Thursday, as its deputy crown prince touted the idea of a sale of Saudi Aramco shares.

Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has completed a Sr7.75bn ($2bn) package of loans by signing a $1.4bn three year revolving credit facility in London this week.

Options traders took Monday's oil volatility seriously, sending prices for near-dated contracts to some of the highest levels of recent months.

Any hopes among European credit traders of easing back into 2016 with a peaceful first week were shattered from the outset on Monday, as spreads gapped wider due to China’s stock market woes and oil price volatility arising from Saudi Arabia’s new stand-off with Iran.

The International Islamic Financial Market has teamed up with the International Swaps and Derivatives Association to publish launch an Islamic cross currency swap standard.

Debt bankers and analysts are expecting Saudi Arabia to tap the international markets for some $5bn in 2016, but BNP Paribas analysts warn that the sovereign entrance is going to hit the secondary levels of other Saudi borrowers.

Beset by dire predictions and gloomy warnings from all sides as to the future of emerging markets, CEEMEA borrowers decided to ignore the melodrama and produce the second biggest week for issuance of the entire year.

Société Générale has appointed Antoine Toussaint as chief country officer and CEO of its Saudi Arabia subsidiary.

A measure of calm is returning to energy commodity markets after a series of wild weeks, but implied volatility measures remain heightened across the sector.