What It Takes to Break Issuance Records in Volatile Markets
The episode examines a wave of record‑breaking bond issuances across sovereign, supranational, provincial and corporate markets amid heightened geopolitical tension from the Iran conflict. Hosts highlight how the UK, Italy, France, the European Investment Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Canada’s British Columbia set new highs in deal size, order‑book depth and investor participation, especially in the dollar market where tight spreads reflected pent‑up demand. They also discuss shifting issuance timing—shortening book‑building windows to reduce overnight market risk—and the waning hedge‑fund appetite for tightly priced euro deals, underscoring a more realistic, less speculative investor base. Guest insights from editors and market participants illustrate how issuers balance record funding needs with risk management in volatile conditions.
How Bond Issuers Will Take Advantage of Iran Ceasefire
The episode examines how the recent Iran‑US ceasefire is reshaping bond issuance in the Gulf and broader emerging markets. With public markets still volatile, sovereigns like Abu Dhabi and Qatar, as well as Egypt, have turned to private placements, accepting slightly...
The Gulf’s Banks Get Ready for Recession
The episode examines the resilience of the sub‑sovereign and supranational bond market amid Middle‑East tensions, highlighting strong issuance and investor demand for AAA‑rated public‑sector bonds despite rising yields. Hosts discuss recent deals across Europe and New Zealand, noting that issuers...
News From the Frontier: Africa Leads Emerging Market Bond Revival
The episode examines the surprising resurgence of emerging‑market bond issuance, led by African issuers such as Angola and telecom tower firm Helios, while Central‑Eastern European and Middle‑Eastern markets remain largely dormant due to war‑related volatility. George Collard explains why lower‑rated...
The Dollar Dilemma for Public Sector Bond Issuers
The episode examines how recent attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure are pushing oil and gas prices higher and the ripple effects on emerging market (EM) sovereign bonds, noting modest yield increases but overall resilience due to stronger fiscal positions...
Banks May Be Shut but Amazon Delivers
The episode examines how the Middle East war is reshaping capital markets, highlighting a shift in euro‑denominated bond issuance: banks have paused their euro funding while corporate issuers, notably Amazon, are stepping in with record‑breaking deals. Amazon raised €14.5 billion across...
Software Update: AI Saas Scare Haunts Capital Markets
Recent AI upgrades, notably Anthropic’s Claude Co‑worker agent, are unsettling SaaS valuations and complicating IPO plans for many software firms. The devaluation of SaaS‑related loans is eroding the collateral base of collateralised loan obligations, with similar pressures hitting chemical‑sector loans....