The market for bonds that target environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns previously put the focus on the environmental aspect, leading to a rush of green bond issuance but little attention on social problems. Not anymore. Social bonds have become a much more prominent tool for highly-rated issuers, helping fund solutions to problems ranging from educational shortfalls in developing countries to the spread of Covid-19 around the world. Japanese issuers have been at the forefront, developing a busy domestic market. GlobalCapital talks to a group of prominent issuers about the potential of social bonds.

Japan’s socially responsible investment (SRI) market has blossomed, helping the country to become a leading destination for the sector. Morgan Davis reports.

Trading levels given are bid-side spreads versus mid-swaps and/or an underlying benchmark and bid-yields from the close of business on Monday, May 11. The source for secondary trading levels is ICE Data Services.

Portuguese mortgage lender UCI doubled the universe of European green securitization issuers when it privately placed its RMBS Green Belém No 1, a deal backed by Portuguese mortgages, at the end of April. The deal had originally been slated for public debut before the coronavirus crisis hit, but was pre-placed in private following March’s market chaos.

As Asian countries slowly pick up the pieces from the aftermath of Covid-19, the bond market has emerged as an important source of funding. When the dust settles, its use for more socially responsible investment (SRI) bonds is only set to rise, writes Morgan Davis.

Credit Suisse has become the first Swiss bank to issue a green bond in the euro market, and has also marketed a rare floating rate note. The trades were testament to improving market conditions and the ability for strong names to sell less common products.

Artificial intelligence is changing the investment banking game. But banks are divided on whether to cut costs or try and win more deals

The US bank is showing its global credentials at a time of increased transatlantic tensions but European banks are equal to the challenge

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

AfDB hopes to launch multi-issuer securitization this year

Deal liberates capital and tempts investors to take new frontier market risk

◆ First dollar benchmark from World Bank since October 2025 ◆ 'Remarkable' size and spread achieved ◆ IDA jumps through hoops to issue SEC exempt deal

New law expected to accelerate the dominance of professional landlords

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

Growing worries about inflation and interest rate rises not putting investors off EM debt, yet

◆ British lender fixed spread and deal size from outset ◆ Order book closed at over two times the deal size ◆ Fixing terms enabled faster execution, the lender said

◆ Sterling trade was lender's third tranche of covereds this year ◆ 48bp was in line with fair value, a banker said ◆ Santander UK's first sterling covered since May 2025

US drug company Eli Lilly jolted the dollar market awake on Wednesday with an eight-part jumbo trade to fund two recent acquisitions

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

Redwood will be a repeat issuer