South America

Following the publication of primary covered bond legislation two years ago, Brazil’s central bank this week launched a public consultation on draft secondary covered bond legislation.

Argentine airport operator Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 saw its new 10 year bond trade up around a point on Tuesday as Latin American corporates extended their stay in a friendly primary market.

Argentine airport operator Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 fetched a new 10 year bond some 30bp inside initial price thoughts on Monday to become the fifth issuer, and fourth corporate, from the country to issue this year.

AES Argentina priced a new seven year bond well inside the expectations of much of the market on Thursday as conditions recovered quickly after a wobble at the end of last week.

Lat Am syndicate bankers said that a $210m five year debut bond issue from Colombian glass and window maker Tecnoglass this week showed the strength of the region’s credit markets — despite the company not raising the maximum slated amount.

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and Guatemala-headquartered Central American Bottling Corporation (CBC) showed that Latin American bond markets had put the softness at the end of last week behind them with heavily oversubscribed trades on Wednesday.

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras has increased the maximum amount of its tender offer for a second time, from $4bn to $6bn, as it continues to make impressive progress chipping away at its roughly $120bn debt mountain.

South American development bank Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) sold R$220.2m ($69.46m) of Brazilian real-denominated Uridashi notes on Tuesday in its first deal in the currency.

Colombia glass and window maker Tecnoglass sold $210m of five year non-call three bonds on Monday in a deal anchored by US high yield investors.

Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president had no effect on Latin American bond markets, said syndicate bankers, although a sell-off in US Treasuries meant the buoyant market tone had softened by the end of the week.

Argentina found ample demand for its latest dollar-denominated bond sale on Thursday as investors found reassurance in the South American country’s ability to diversify its funding.

Colombia returned to dollars after a 15 month absence on Wednesday, becoming the first investment-grade Latin American sovereign to issue in the currency this year and notching up a large, tightly priced deal.