Canadians under pressure as BNS adds to exceptional covered and SSA volumes

Bank of Nova Scotia was set to price a €1.25bn three year covered bond tap 25bp wider than indicative secondary levels on Thursday, its third foray in euros this year and the 19th Canadian covered bond to be issued globally in 2020. The deals are in keeping with an exceptional volume of cheaply priced Canadian public ssector bond issuance and highlight a unique set of challenges for the country's borrowers, related to sinking oil prices, an inflexible central bank and the impact of Covid-19.