Standard Chartered

Carsten Stoehr, who's been with Standard Chartered since April 2012 in various senior positions, has left the bank.

The Republic of Cameroon reverted to launching its bond at a yield of 9.75% on Thursday — in line with initial price talk but at the wide end of the updated pricing range — in order to secure a larger deal than was on the table at the tightened level.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has signed its $77m loan, the first international syndicated loan this year for a borrower in Nigeria, which has been struggling with a low oil price and political instability.

As Ecobank syndicates one of the first Nigerian loans of the year, new lenders are joining the syndicate from Africa and, more surprisingly, the Middle East.

Cameroon has released price guidance at 9.75% area for an amortising dollar benchmark, lining it up to be one of the highest yielding CEEMEA sovereign bonds of the year.

The Asia ex-Japan bond market sprung to life on November 12 with China Huarong Asset Management, China State Construction Engineering Corp and Beijing Properties opening books for dollar bonds, while Korea Housing Finance Corp (KHFC) opted for a covered bond and Malaysia’s Axiata Group, a sukuk.

Albaraka Turk Katılım Bankası (Albaraka Türk), has mandated seven banks to arrange a Basel III compliant Reg S tier two subordinated sukuk — only the second from Turkey and the first in sukuk format.

International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) has mandated three banks to arrange a debut benchmark dollar Reg S senior bond. The deal will be eagerly watched as it will be only the second senior conventional ME bank deal since June.

First City Monument Bank will close the first Nigerian bank loan of the year, a $75m later today (Wednesday), according to a banker close to the deal.

The Standard Chartered Renminbi Globalisation Index (RGI) rose 3.26% month on month in September due to the jump in FX turnover for a second consecutive month. However, the bank expects the RGI to fall in Q4 as RMB depreciation expectations are likely to persist in the market.

Birla Carbon, part of the India’s Aditya Birla Group, has shortlisted banks to supply a $925m dual-tranche facility that will replace a loan it borrowed in 2011.

Commercial Bank of Dubai has released initial price thoughts for a five year dollar benchmark at mid-to low 200bp over mid-swaps.