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.

New changes will allow for 'more intuitive' analysis and increase maximum covered bond rating uplift

Fitch has replaced Moody's as main rater

Bifurcation is emerging in how investors treat the hyperscalers

Lessor's $717m deal shows aircraft lease ABS spreads back at pre-war levels

Spreads widen after string of surprise jumbo tech trades

Alphabet, Amazon and Oracle may give bond market a rest

Books multiple times covered as company seeks money for energy investments

Deal to recoup costs to pay for 2018 Woolsey fire damage

Enpal plans its fourth issuance for later this year

Few sub-Saharan African issuers have issued Samurai and fewer without a guarantee

Break-up with Fitch over downgrade has not put off investors

Strong appetite from international banks for first gigascale 24/7 solar plant

Issuer has set the stage for peers to return to public market

Uneventful ECB passes as SSA bankers say bigger risk is energy shock lasting into August reopening

The trade may persuade other top-tier GCC sovereigns that the public market is open

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