Search results for

* Ford Motor Credit Company Rating: A2/A/A+

Royal Bank of Canada has increased the ceiling off its programme for the issuance of notes from $10 billion to $12 billion. The programme has issued 30 trades since signing in July 1997, 20 of which are still outstanding and worth $4.84 billion.

* European Investment Bank Rating: Aaa/AAA

* Pacific Life Funding LLC Rating: Aa3/AA+

Domestic issuance: * Aargauische Kantonalbank

Tower Holdings (Australia) helped cement the expanding high grade sector of Australian bonds when it launched only the second ever triple-B rated bond to firm investor interest last Friday. The $100m two year transaction was sole lead managed by National Australia Bank (NAB) and was priced at par, with a coupon of 69bp over BBSW. Tower Holdings (Australia) is the Australian arm of the New Zealand insurance company.

Issuance from UK companies in 2001 has been even better than last year, despite the global downturn in stock markets and investor appetite for new transactions. According to Dealogic Capital Data, there has been £16.6bn of equity issuance from UK corporates this year up to August 8, compared with £14.8bn in the same period last year.

EuroWeek hears that BT has approached relationship banks for a £4bn loan to facilitate the demerger of BT Wireless. The demerger is planned for the second quarter and bankers say that if BT uses the loan market to raise finances, the mandate will be awarded after August.

Globals * Cendant Corp

Sixteen trades went through in US dollar yesterday, making up 38% of the market. The Republic of Argentina closed a $3.30 million 32-month trade, due on August 13. And KeyBank issued a 35-month note for $250 million. HSBC Bank USA and HSBC Investment Bank (Netherlands) were in the one-month sector, with a $400,000 note that pays a final coupon of 5% and a $20 million note respectively. And Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Japan also stayed at the short end with its $203.26 million three-month note that pays a final coupon of 3.644%. Westland/Utrecht Hypotheekbank closed a one-year trade for $20 million. And Standard Chartered Bank issued a 12-year $38 million note that pays a final coupon of 0.500%

US dollar took a share of just over 18% of the market volume on Friday, and 15 of the 66 trades closed in the currency. Westland/Utrecht Hypotheekbank closed the biggest US dollar trade on Friday. The $100 million one-year note pays a final coupon of 3.87%. It is the issuer's third $100 million note this year and its seventh in US dollar. It has been a more frequent issuer in the yen and euro sector. Linde Finance issued a four-year $25 million FRN, its 13th in the currency this year. Linde's US dollar trades this year have been mainly in the 10- and one-year sector. Export Development Corp and World Bank also issued in the four-year maturity sector, with $50 million and $41 million notes respectively. The $41 million four-year trade pays a final coupon of 5%. John Hancock Global Funding went a year longer with its $60 million note that goes out to 2006. It pays interest semi-annually and gives a final coupon of 5.5%. Abbey National Treasury International also issued in the five-year sector. Its $10 million trade pays interest semi-annually.

Ten trades were issued in US dollar, although the amount came to just under 5% of the market total, compared to euro's 53% share with just 11 trades. HSBC Bank USA closed three small trades for $210,000, $250,000 and $300,000. All three trades mature in one month. The borrower also issued a $2.94 million maturing in February 2005. Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank's $24 million note also matures in 2005. It is due on August 29 and is the issuer's first US dollar trade in this maturity bracket this year. World Bank closed a $13.10 million three-year trade, due on August 9. It pays a final coupon of 4.045% and pays interest semi-annually. Commonwealth Bank of Australia issued a $5 million five-year note that pays a final coupon of 1.310%. And Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat Luxembourg closed the longest US dollar maturity with a $10 million 10-year note.