US Markets carved out another day of gains ahead of the earnings from the major US banks. S&P, up 0.4%, continued its record breading streak and Nasdaq, up 0.2%, inched closer to its record high. Most sectors gained with Financials, Real Estate and Communication Services up ~0.9% leading from the front. Tesla was the notable gainer, up 4.4% after the court testimony by Elon Musk. JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs were also up 1.4% and 2.3% ahead of the release of their 2Q earnings. US 10Y Treasury yields were only 1bp higher to 1.37%. European indices also continued their upward momentum – DAX, CAC and FTSE up 0.7%, 0.5% and 0.1% respectively. US IG and HY CDS spreads tightened 0.1bp and 0.5bp respectively. EU main CDS spread were flat while crossover spreads tightened 0.4bp. Brazil’ Bovespa was up 1.7%. Saudi TASI and Abu Dhabi’s ADX were up 0.1% and 0.4% respectively. China’s exports in June jumped 32.2% YoY while its imports were up 36.7%. Asian stocks also advanced – HSI up 1.8% led the gains. Nikkei, Shanghai and Singapore’s STI are up 0.8%, 0.3% and 0.5% respectively. Asia ex-Japan CDS spreads were 0.2bp tighter.
New Bond Issues
- Country Garden markets capped $200m tap of 2.7% 2026s at T+260bp; books over $900mn
- Sunac China $ 3.25NC2.25 at 7.2% area & tap of $ 6.5% 2026s at 7.5% area
- Far East Consortium International tap of $ 5.1% 2024s at 4.625% area
- Housing and Development Board markets S$ 12yr at 1.865%
- Zhejiang Provincial Energy $ 5Y bonds at T+140 area
- CLP Power Hong Kong $ 10Y bonds at T+115bp area
MUFG raised $6bn via a three-trancher. It raised:
- $2.1bn via a 4NC3 bond at a yield of 0.953%, 20bp inside initial guidance of T+75bp area
- $2.1bn via a 6NC5 bond at a yield of 1.538%, 20bp inside initial guidance of T+95bp area
- $1.8bn via a 11NC10 bond at a yield of 2.309%, 20bp inside initial guidance of T+115bp area
The bonds have expected ratings of A1/A-/A- and received orders over $9.6bn, 1.6x issue size. Proceeds will be used to fund the operations of MUFG Bank and Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corp through loans that are intended to qualify as internal TLAC debt.
Minor International raised $300mn via a PerpNC5 at a yield of 2.7%, 45bp inside initial guidance of 3.15% area. The bonds have expected ratings of Baa2/BBB, and received orders over $2.1bn, 7x issue size. The bonds will be guaranteed by Bangkok Bank (Baa1/BBB+/BBB), acting through its Singapore branch. Bangkok Bank will provide an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee on all sums due, subject to a maximum guaranteed amount. It will also purchase the bonds upon a bankruptcy or non-call event, also up to the outstanding payment obligations amount. The coupon is deferrable and will reset at the end of year five to the 5Y Treasury yield + 191.8bp. Proceeds will be used to fund a tender offer for any and all of its $300mn 4.661% Perps callable on December 4. Minor will pay $1,017.48 per $1,000 in principal, plus accrued interest, but will increase the purchase price to $1,018.98 if 75% or more of the principal amount of the securities are validly tendered. The offer ends on July 15. Its 4.661% Perps currently trade at 101.08, yielding 1.83%.
Korea Investment & Securities raised $600mn via a debut two-trancher. It raised $300mn via a 3Y bond at a yield of 1.493%, 30bp inside initial guidance of T+140bp. It also raised $300mn via a 5Y bond at a yield of 2.13%, 30bp inside initial guidance of T+165bp area. The bonds have expected ratings of Baa2/BBB, and received orders over $2.12bn, 3.5x issue size. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.
Yuyao Shuncai Investment raised $100mn via a 364-day note at a yield of 2.5%, 40bp inside initial guidance of 2.9% area. Shun Xin International Development is the issuer and Yuyao Shuncai is the guarantor. The bonds have expected ratings of BBB-, and received orders over $350mn, 3.5x issue size. Proceeds will be used for general working capital.
New Bonds Pipeline
-
Temasek subsidiary Vertex Venture hires DBS for S$ bond investor calls
Rating Changes
- Telepizza Subsidiary, Foodco Bondco Upgraded To ‘CCC+’ By S&P On Improving Liquidity And Earnings; Outlook Negative
- Moody’s upgrades China Zheshang Bank’s deposit ratings to Baa3/P-3; outlook stable
- Peabody Energy Corp. Downgraded To ‘SD’ From ‘CCC’ By S&P On Distressed Debt Repurchases, Tender Offer
- Fitch Downgrades EPM’s Ratings to ‘BB+’; Maintains Rating Watch Negative
- Fitch Revises Philippines’ Outlook to Negative; Affirms at ‘BBB’
- Fitch Places Liangshan Development under Rating Watch Negative
- Fitch Rates Bulgarian Energy Holding’s Upcoming Eurobond ‘BB(EXP)’
- Fitch Assigns Zhejiang Energy’s Proposed USD Notes ‘A+’ Rating
-
Moody’s withdraws Government of Ecuador senior unsecured ratings for business reasons
Term of the Day
Nature Performance Bond
As per the F4B Initiative (Finance for BioDiversity), nature Performance Bonds are bonds where proceeds would be tied to measurable targets for restoring wetlands, protecting forests, and reducing threats to wildlife and plant species, but would also allow for use of proceeds for general purposes. The idea is that it would incentivise nature performance by offering a reduction in coupon and the potential for a principal adjustment on full delivery of the targeted nature and climate outcomes.
Pakistan plans to issue the world’s first nature performance bonds, targeting a $1bn issuance that would be tied to biodiversity and nature restoration targets.
Talking Heads
ChristineLagarde, ECB president
“What we will have to do now is redefine our forward guidance to align it with the strategy review,”
“I neither have the expectation nor the illusion that we will be unanimous on all the decisions that we make,”
On meeting IMF representatives to revamp some $45 billion the country owes the Fund.
Martin Guzman, Economy Minister Argentina
Teams from both sides will “finish reviewing technical issues with a view to continuing the debt negotiations in the coming months.”
“There will be several meetings throughout the day, all led by Guzman, in which progress is expected but not immediate definitions.”
On Case to Slow Fed Bond Buying
“We set a very clear marker, I think, not a quantitative marker, but a very clear marker that we want substantial further progress [on job market improvement] relative to where we were”, “That’s where I’m focused, clearly right now we have not achieved that,”, “This is a time of very high uncertainty,”, “I’m not going to give a forecast of when the committee will come to a decision around changing the pace of asset purchases.”
On Lower bond yields are no longer good news for stocks
Mohamed El-Erian, president of Queens’ College, Cambridge and an adviser to Allianz and Gramercy
On Saudi sovereign wealth fund scoping banks for ESG framework
On Junk Bond Yields Below Inflation
Gennadiy Goldberg, U.S. rates strategist at TD Securities
Top Gainers & Losers – 13-Jul-21*
