UK

An unfortunately timed Gilt auction recorded the highest yield tail — an indicator typically inversely proportional to an auction’s perceived success — in nearly a decade on Thursday, as several UK government ministers resigned over the draft Brexit agreement with the EU. But SSA bankers said that while the tail was “optically” bad, the wider context meant the Gilt sale had been a success.

Corporate bond investors have had to pick their way through a tricky market in 2018. A number of headwinds, both predictable and not, have made it difficult to produce the returns of previous years. However, there are a number of positives that remain, so how should investors move forward from here?

The European Commission, on Tuesday, told UK clearing houses and securities depositories to pre-apply to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for recognition, should hard Brexit take place.

Renewables Infrastructure Group, the UK renewable energy investment company, has begun bookbuilding for a £80m follow-on offering on the London Stock Exchange, after the deal was given the green light by shareholders at a general meeting on Friday.

Kazatomprom, the world’s largest producer of natural uranium, priced a $451m IPO this week with a strong, but concentrated, book backing the deal.

The Restaurant Group, the London-listed owner of Frankie & Benny’s, is pressing ahead with the £315m rights issue it announced last month to finance its acquisition of Wagamama, the Japanese restaurant chain, despite concern from some investors over the rationale for the takeover.

Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) broadened its investor base on Friday with its first sterling covered bond in six years. The deal was set to price in line with a similar five year Sonia-linked bond issued this week by Coventry Building Society but with less demand. Even so, supply hopes remain alive.

In this round-up, China’s foreign reserves in October decrease $34bn due to the stronger dollar, monthly exports climbed more than expected, Singapore Exchange signed cooperation agreements to develop more opportunities for Chinese enterprises in Singapore.

Ireland’s Dalata Hotel Group has signed a €525m-equivalent loan facility, with new banks joining the acquisitive borrower’s lending group.

Aviva and Legal & General both made bond market returns this week, reopening euros and sterling respectively after a long period of low supply from financial names.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has unveiled regulatory relief for EU counterparties that have non-cleared derivatives agreements with UK entities. The measures aim to help alleviate increased costs that may kick in due to a no-deal Brexit.

BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole and Société Générale are making plans for the eventuality of a hard Brexit, in some cases putting swathes of bankers at risk of redundancy. Some DCM and sales teams have been asked to move, though each bank is taking a different approach as to who will need to be relocated to comply with EU regulations.