Europe’s high grade corporate bond market saw an abundance of mandates on Tuesday, suggesting that the bullish hopes from some corners of the banking world for May’s primary market might be fulfilled.

The Pfandbrief market is in the middle of a tumultuous year which includes not only the adoption of the EU's Covered Bond Directive but also digesting the bloc's Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities. Of course, this is all happening against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, which have hit the commercial real estate market that underpins much of the product. Jens Tolckmitt, chief executive of the Association of German Pfandbriefbanks (vdp), spoke to GlobalCapital about how the market has coped.

LimakPort, a Turkish port operator, said on Tuesday it will look to come to the dollar market for a 15 year amortising bond with a coupon that steps up if the issuer fails to meet sustainability targets.

Erste Group Bank is lining up its first sustainability bond, as it looks to take advantage of a quiet period for new issuance and a recent back-up in rates.

Bank of Ireland Group was more than three times subscribed for a new tier two on Tuesday, as it followed its domestic peer AIB Group in applying a green label to the asset class.

Germany’s Finanzagentur is holding calls with investors this week to sound out interest for a planned syndication of a 30 year green bond, the sovereign’s third and longest deal in the format.

FIG issuers have shown that investors are ready to absorb all the supply that comes their way

Investor tells GlobalCapital it liked the portfolio’s diversity, data depth and sustainability impact

Bank’s €1bn transaction is most granular so far and found new buyers

World Bank-managed issuer taps capital markets to accelerate donor pledges into Gavi vaccine programmes

Public pension schemes have sold shares in coal, oil and gas companies but are still funding expansion of the gas industry through infrastructure funds

Fund modelled on Romania’s Fondul has $2.4bn of assets

Trade backed by lease, power purchase agreements as sector navigates regulatory changes

Nigeria plans a total return swap, following peers on the continent in the last 12 months

The DRC has a poor governance record but that doesn't mean things will end in tears for its investors

Demand allowed the bank to cut the yield by 35bp

The country offers huge potential and possible pitfalls for investors

A piece of very rare African senior bank issuance could also come this week

Lower rates will need lower inflation — and an FOMC consensus

Leveraged loan prices have rallied from their post-war dip, with CLO demand remaining strong despite subdued LBO activity

Gulf AT1 deluge will be a challenge, with or without drone strikes

The US dollar market buoyant this week despite escalating hostilities in the Middle East

Redwood will be a repeat issuer

Monday evening sale is latest block trade