Spain

Investors appear emboldened by news of a snap election in Catalonia, returning to Spanish government bonds and pushing yields down to near two month lows.

After 130 years as a family business, Navarra-based berries producer Planasa sold a majority stake to private equity firm Cinven on Monday, in a €450m deal.

Deutsche Bank is tonight leading a block trade so that three foundations that are among the largest shareholders in Liberbank can 'tail-swallow', meaning sell some of their stakes to finance subscription to Liberbank's €500m rights issue.

Many in the financial industry in Madrid believe Catalonia’s independence adventure is over. But plenty in Barcelona expect lengthy spells of uncertainty after Spain’s government moved to end the region’s autonomy.

The IPO of Aedas Homes, the Spanish home builder, has been priced at €31.65, the bottom of the €31.65 to €33.15 initial range, after receiving orders from almost 100 investors.

The public sector debt market is providing high volumes of funding at astonishingly tight spreads as investors brush off political concerns and scramble to pick up what supply remains for 2017. However, central banks around the world are weighing on investors’ minds.

French car hire group Europcar opened the high yield bond primary market on Monday with new debt to fund the acquisition of Spanish peer Goldcar, demonstrating how little investors are worrying about the escalating crisis between Catalonia and Spain over the former's push for independence.

The ministry for the economy of Catalonia, the rebellious region seeking independence from Spain, is working on a white paper on what role the potential new state will play in international markets. The document reveals an aspiration to become a hub for co-operative and ethical bank issuance.

The price range for the €680m IPO of Aedas Homes, the Spanish home builder, has been narrowed to €31.65 to €32.40, the bottom half of the initial range. The deal is covered throughout that range, according to a banker involved in the deal.

There was a time, not so very long ago, when a ‘yes’ vote in a secession referendum in the most prosperous region of the eurozone’s fastest growing economy might have sparked some concerns. Those days appear to be behind us.

By 10am on Monday October 16, Catalonia's president Carles Puigdemont must clarify whether this week’s declaration of independence was firm. Many in capital markets have dismissed the possibility of Spain’s constitutional crisis causing market volatility, but the Catalan government is approaching its week of reckoning in combative mood, write Lewis McLellan and Victor Jimenez.

Tuesday’s speech from Catalan president Carles Puigdemont went some way towards restoring a sense of calm in Europe, as he stopped short of making a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain, instead offering to negotiate with the national government.