United States

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, the US securities business of MUFG, has started US equity research coverage this week, with a new team consisting of four analysts. Coverage will focus on energy, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and technology.

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has dropped proposals to ban banks from using agency ratings in their internal risk-weighted asset models, a move which could save the industry the job of raising billions in extra capital.

The IMF changed the weighting formula for its Special Drawing Rights basket ahead of the inclusion of the renminbi last month. However, using the old SDR formula to determine Chinese currency’s weight would have been preferable, according to a former IMF official.

Air Liquide and Saipem loans show that bankers and borrowers are not yet slowing down as they seek to tie up remaining bumper deals they launched in a busy fourth quarter.

Flint Group, the printing and packaging inks supplier, has allocated a €150m add on facility to the six year term loan ‘B’ it signed in May.

BlackRock, Bank of New York Mellon and State Street have agreed to include Markit’s exchange traded fund collateral lists in their collateral management schedules.

General Electric has terminated an agreement to sell its appliance business to Swedish household appliance producer Electrolux, toasting bankers' plans to provide bridge financing.

European regulators have ditched a long-running investigation of 13 major banks on charges of collusion in the credit default swap market, citing insufficient evidence.

Tradition and Intercontinental Exchange are both making advances in power and energy derivatives, after unveiling initiatives this week.

A trio of Wall Street’s biggest banks led a dash for dollars this week as a positive market backdrop drew a flood of issuance ahead of the year-end slowdown.

McDonald's led a headlong rush by high grade US dollar debt issuers to grab investors’ attention before the year-end shutdown and a likely interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.

Puerto Rico’s development bank made a $354m debt payment this week, narrowly staving off default.