BEFORE THE arrival of the single currency, European sovereigns enjoyed the benefits of being the benchmark issuer in their domestic currencies. Investors regarded their debt as the risk-free benchmark, their products were the most liquid available in the currency, and competition from similar credits was minimal. With the arrival of the euro, the market landscape has changed dramatically. Smaller and medium sized EU states now face many of the same challenges that non-sovereigns have long encountered. Behind the benchmark issuers, France and Germany, the remaining EU members now form the top tier of the new credit market.
February 12, 1999