Canada

CDP Financial, one of Canada's largest public pension asset managers, has mandated banks to arrange calls with investors for its first green bond.

PSP Capital, the debt issuance arm of Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board, is planning a dollar benchmark — its first international bond ever.

Laurentian Bank has wasted little time getting its newly set up covered bond programme a top rating with DBRS and is now undertaking a roadshow with plans to sell its first deal in Canadian dollars. It is also looking at subordinated issuance in local currency.

Goldman Sachs made its second visit to the Maple market this year on Thursday. The Canadian dollar market is enjoying its busiest year in four years for offshore issuance.

The Province of Ontario ended an absence of almost four years from the Swiss franc market this week to land a 12 year note at fair value. Elsewhere, Valiant Bank and Pfandbriefbank kept the domestic market ticking over with a handful of covered deals.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce returned to the euro covered bond market for its first deal since March 2020, issuing a highly subscribed €1bn eight year flat to fair value this week. At the same time Laurentian Bank said that its programme had received regulatory approval.

Laurentian Bank has received approval from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to establish a C$2bn legislative covered bond programme.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce returned to the euro covered bond market for its first deal since March 2020, issuing a highly subscribed €1bn eight year flat to fair value on Thursday.

Trading levels given are bid-side spreads versus mid-swaps and/or an underlying benchmark and bid-yields from the close of business on Monday, April 19. The source for secondary trading levels is ICE Data Services.

RBC Capital Markets has created a new leadership position at the top of its global public sector markets business, promoting a senior banker in Toronto to fill the role.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused severe disruption to financial markets in 2020-2021. During this difficult time, the Bank of Canada and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions took a number of actions to build resilience and improve the stability of the Canadian financial system. Federally regulated financial institutions were, among other things, permitted the privilege to pledge covered bonds with the central bank, which provided access to long-term repos and benefited from preferential regulatory treatment of loans subject to payment deferrals.

SSA borrowers are out in force in the dollar market, hitting screens with mandates alongside a pair of US Treasury auctions. Uncertain dynamics in the Treasury market will mean these auctions are well-watched for any repeat of the disappointing February seven year and the volatility it sparked.