There was a surge in US dollar, with $867.18 million raised off 34 trades. More interest was seen in the short end, with six trades closed under three months. These came mainly from HSBC Bank USA, which has returned to the short end after an absence of several weeks. Another issuer in the three-month bracket was Pacific Dunlop, the Australian rubber company, with a $20.92 million trade. Landesbank Baden-Wurttemburg closed a $20 million trade in the five-year sector. The note is non-call-six-months and has just one call option. It was a reverse enquiry trade that pays a fixed rate of 3.5% and Credit Suisse First Boston was the bookrunner. Royal Bank of Scotland closed two dollar notes. One is a self-led note for $10 million. It is non-call-two and is floating rate linked to 6m $Libor +91bp for the first two years. After that is pays a fixed rate of 7% annually. The borrower also closed a lower tier two capital issue via Morgan Stanley off its Euro-MTN programme. The coupon pays a fixed rate plus a variation linked to the volatility of the dollar swap rate. The note is listed in Luxembourg, and the investor is one US investment manager.
October 19, 2001