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* GZ Bank AG Rating: A1/A+/AA-

Romania's Eu200m five year Eurobond looks set for launch today (Friday), despite a week of bearish news about the country. One banker following the deal, being lead managed by ING Barings and Schroder Salomon Smith Barney, said: "It will either be Friday or early next week. They are talking about 11.5%-11.75%, and the Romanians are focusing on 11.5%. During the roadshow over the last week, it has gone from looking expensive to even." Romania's three year issue of September was trading at 10.85% late on Thursday night.

Denmark LB Kiel is expected to launch a term loan for a Danish financial institution in the next week. The margin is thought to be close to 24bp with just over 25bp all-in.

* European Investment Bank Rating: Aaa/AAA

* Co-operative Bank plc Senior rating: A3/A (Moody's/Fitch)

The new issue market on the Neuer Markt may be picking up. The two companies that listed on the high growth exchange in Frankfurt this week have seen their shares rise, despite two Neuer Markt companies announcing disappointing results. Software consulting firm syskoplan managed to price its Eu31m IPO at the top of the range on Wednesday and the shares opened up 7%. Shares in integrated call centre provider Camelot tele.communication.online rose as much as 51% after its Eu29m IPO.

* Citigroup Inc Rating: Aa2/AA-/AA

The final two months of equity issuance in 2000 will be characterised by a struggle between telecoms companies seeking funds. Despite negative investor sentiment towards the sector, KPN, Telefónica Móviles and Telekom Austria all have multi-billion euro deals in the market. Telenor will launch shortly and Portugal Telecom, via Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, is expected in December.

Activity in the telecom sector moved east this week with the launch to general syndication of PTC's Eu650m facility and the expected launch of a second financing for Croatia's VIP-Net. VIP-Net is owned by Mobilkom Austria (30%), Western Wireless International (19%), Vecernji List (23.5%) and Hvratska Postanska Banka (4.9%).

Merrill Lynch and CAIB began marketing the Eu1.5bn IPO of Telekom Austria this week with a lower than expected price range for the incumbent operator. Bankers connected to the sale stressed the competitive pricing of the 140m share sale. The shares will be priced at between Eu9 and Eu12 each, giving a valuation of 5.5-6.5 times 2002 EV/Ebitda.

Thomson-CSF (Thomson), the French manufacturer of electronic equipment for aerospace, defence and information technology, has signed a euro1.5 billion ($1.29 billion) Euro-MTN programme. ABN Amro arranged the facility and the dealers are BNP Paribas, Chase Manhattan, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank, SG and UBS. Thomson has already issued its first trade off the shelf: a euro500 million five-year note. Florien de La Comble, corporate financing director at Thomson, says: "If we do a public trade it will probably be in euros or sterling, which is an interesting market for corporates. If we issue private placements it will be on an opportunistic basis. We may also swap back because our needs are mainly in euros, then sterling and dollar"