There are growing signs of a global reluctance to embrace environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, with talk of greenhushing emerging in many pockets of the bond market. Yet, Japan’s top regulatory bodies and issuers are eager to embrace ESG and, in particular, to continue growing their transition bond market, seeing its potential for ushering in change and reaching net-zero commitments.

Japan’s sovereign, supranational and agency borrowers are among the most well regarded and highly rated in the international debt markets. Yet they are not immune to the volatility caused by the new US administration under president Donald Trump or the pressure from contrasting monetary policies implemented by different central banks. Timing deals well, being nimble and having diverse sources of funding are all expected to be critical in the year ahead.

◆ A new social bond issuer is born ◆ Agency opts for domestic currency for debut, keen to print again ◆ First Swedish SSA with a social use of proceeds bond

◆ 10 year 'surprise' reopens euro covered market ◆ Concession needed to seal the deal ◆ Trade lands through OATs

Development bank wants to encourage adoption by showing how new standard can integrate with existing green bond issuance

Swiss market resilient, but Trump test is set to be a roadblock

Canadian banks have high fossil fuel financing and are heavily used as repo collateral

High emitters' bonds to be assigned lower value as collateral

Measuring climate risk for repo haircuts will have no direct effect, but sends a message

Skipping Taxonomy was wise, but reporting and planning regulations must be world-leading

◆ UK rule change cheers covered bonds... ◆ ... as it shelves Taxonomy plans amid wider transition shift ◆ Digital markets: what makes a swap smart

Transition plans and disclosure rules will be central to UK’s bid for sustainable finance leadership

Texas utility securitizes recovery charges permitted after Thunderstorm Derecho

Barclays is past halfway in its three year growth plan — it needs to accelerate

The market should not punish every issuer for entering a debt rework

Beleaguered developer picks syndicate for equity raise

African Development Bank is arranging billions of dollars in financing

Principal repayments coming due but Bolivia's foreign exchange coffers are bare

Loan market tranquil but outlook is not pretty

Banks are taking back control after Covid

New long bond to be an ‘eye-catcher’ for absolute yield buyers

Conditions attractive for convertible issuers to refinance

Several European IPOs are running despite US attacks on Iran

European IPOs expected next month