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Belgium Fortis Finance has again turned to Chase for its loan financing needs. This time the Benelux banking group requires a $250m US swingline facility.

The German equity pipeline for the autumn is starting to fill up fast, with a raft of deals ranging from hi-tech companies listing on the Neuer Markt to spin-offs from some of Germany's leading corporate names. New issuance on the Neuer Markt has already started to pick up pace, with telephone banking group Entrium and network management services company Main Control poised to launch their respective offerings.

n Croatia's Agrokor this week tapped the European private placement market with a Eu31m five year floating rate offering via Rabobank. The company's debut international bond offering was guaranteed by the Baa3/BBB/BB+ rated Republic of Croatia. The lead manager declined to confirm the terms of the offering beyond the September 9, 2004 maturity and par issue/fixed

Market commentary: Compiled by Glenn Blackley,

Securitisation yet again demonstrated its power to cope with the most complex financing problems this week, as Royal Bank of Scotland placed £480m of bonds to fund Virgin Rail Group’s procurement of 53 hi-tech tilting trains.

The US primary equity markets are gearing up for a busy autumn, with several large deals in the pipeline. Market favourite Juniper Networks filed this week for the sale of some 5m shares which could raise over $1bn when completed, based on the Wednesday's closing price of $205. The company, a provider of innovative internet infrastructure systems, made its Nasdaq debut in June at $34 and has traded at over 500% of its offer price since. The appreciation in its stock price has given Juniper a market valuation of well over $8bn. The shares wobbled this week, dipping to $180 a day after filing, but recovered to $187 by Thursday afternoon.

Rating: AAA Amount: Eu135.885m (fungible with three issues totalling Eu764.122m launched 13/08/98, 04/12/98 and 04/05/99) Öffentlicher Pfandbrief series 955

Regus Business Centres, the largest provider of serviced offices in the world, has launched its flotation on the London Stock Exchange via global co-ordinator and bookrunner Merrill Lynch. The transaction should result in a float worth £250m-£300m, putting a market capitalisation on the group of around £1bn. All the shares being sold are new capital for the group, although the 15% greenshoe - if required - will be provided by shares held by the company's venture capital investors.

Rheinische Hypothekenbank won plaudits this week for its responsible approach in launching a Eu2bn five year global jumbo Pfandbrief, keeping the size digestible in the difficult market and avoiding the heavily supplied long end of the curve. Following on from Allgemeine Hypothekenbank's Eu5bn transaction of last week - which continues to trade well and attract buyers - Rheinhyp's deal has restored some confidence in the jumbo market after fears that oversupply and overambitious mortgage banks might push the market over the edge.

Rheinische Hypothekenbank won plaudits this week for its responsible approach in launching a Eu2bn five year global jumbo Pfandbrief, keeping the size digestible in the difficult market and avoiding the heavily supplied long end of the curve. Following on from Allgemeine Hypothekenbank's Eu5bn transaction of last week - which continues to trade well and attract buyers - Rheinhyp's deal has restored some confidence in the jumbo market after fears that oversupply and overambitious mortgage banks might push the market over the edge.

Rating: Aaa/AAA Amount: Eu2bn global bond Öffentlicher Pfandbrief series 798

n European Investment Bank Rating: Aaa/AAA