UK

Standard Chartered has hired a banker for a new job covering UK corporate DCM within its European debt capital markets operation.

Standard Chartered is strengthening its credit teams in Singapore, Hong Kong, London and New York, the bank said this week.

Clare Francis, head of global corporates at Lloyds, is to leave the UK firm.

Saga, the UK insurance company, priced its £250m bond almost almost 40bp inside initial price thoughts on Tuesday, in the European high yield market's first new issue since the French election, despite fears that a Macron win could be read as negative for the Brexiting UK.

After a five year absence, Royal Bank of Scotland returned to the covered bond market on Tuesday selling larger than expected and well oversubscribed sterling and euro benchmarks that were priced tight to fair value.

Standard Chartered is giving a shot in the arm to its credit business, with new hires in Singapore, Hong Kong, London and New York, according to a Tuesday press release.

Equity block trading began smartly on Monday evening after Emmanuel Macron generated relief across markets by winning the French presidency on Sunday. Goldman Sachs brought two trades for its own private equity arm.

Alfa Financial Software Holdings, the UK financial software company, has announced its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange.

The Bank of England has published data on the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), and analysts said that UK firms will have little difficulty complying with the rules by 2022.

Barclays has mandated itself for a roadshow and plans to issue its first sterling covered bond in more than two years.

Cobham, the UK aerospace and marine technology company, has finished its second rights issue in 12 months, after the leads completed a small rump placement.

The UK Debt Management Office has picked the lead managers for the first syndication of its 2017-18 financial year, which it has scheduled for the week beginning May 15.