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US MARKETS regained confidence this week after a shaky start, generating enough momentum in the market to push a number of large deals through. The size of both primary and secondary US equity issues has been increasing this year and there were some large chunks of stock placed successfully this week with investors still hungry for the right name. But bankers caution that the backlog of new issues may now be starting to overhang the market.

MEXICAN oil concern Pemex plans to issue a £150m, 15 year deal next week, despite volatile emerging market conditions. Lead managers UBS and SBC Warburg Dillon Read took Pemex on roadshows this week, planning to price in the week ahead in line with Pemex dollar bond spreads.

Abhay Rangnekar has been appointed as director, head of project and structured finance at ANZ Investment Bank in India. Based in Mumbai, he will be responsible for ANZ's Indian project finance business and reports to Stephen Crew, head of global project finance and Mehli Mistri, managing director at ANZ Grindlays Bank, India.

THE CROATIAN government has completed the $238m sale of stock in national pharmaceuticals group, Pliva. This second offering of shares targeted retail as well as institutional investors. Although the domestic response to the deal was somewhat subdued, participants claim the sale has contributed toward creating a share-owning public in Croatia.

* European Bank for Reconstruction & Development Rating: Aaa/AAA

SAUDI ARAMCO this week began quietly tapping key relationship banks to refinance a $2bn corporate facility. The quasi-sovereign oil firm is a bashful borrower and banks involved in the deal have been warned to guard their information memorandum zealously. But Euroweek has learned that this deal will amend an existing facility put in place in 1995. Under the refinanced structure the debt's maturity will be stretched another five years to 2003 and the funding cost cut to 22.5bp over Libor.

THE SLOVAK Republic this week went some way to assuaging investor concerns over the country's uncertain political and economic future and troubled ratings past, raising over $750m with a multi-tranche, multi-currency financing package which marked its debut in the public international bond markets. The pioneering transaction, split between a ¥15bn three year yen portion, a DM600m five Deutschmark element and a $300m five year dollar piece, secured much needed funding for the Ba3/BBB-/BBB- rated country. The deal enabled it to set simultaneous benchmarks in three of the world's major funding currencies.

OVERWHELMING demand for name and credit diversification in the flourishing euro denominated bond sector enabled the Republic of Slovenia to enjoy a blow-out success with its debut transaction in the currency and to set a benchmark pricing low for emerging market credits. As central and eastern Europe's top rated sovereign, A3/A/A- rated Slovenia was able to benefit from a flight to quality in the emerging market debt sector this week. It launched a Eu500m seven year transaction via JP Morgan and Paribas. This featured a 5.375% coupon to yield just 57bp over the 7.5% April 25, 2003 OAT on an issue fixed re-offer price of 99.63.

* DNIB Rating: Aa3

* Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale Rating: Aa1/AAA (Moody's/IBCA)

* General Electric Capital Corp Rating: Aaa/AAA

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