Credit Suisse

Two Chinese property companies seized the market window on Thursday to raise a combined $802m from the bond market.

BNP Paribas returned to the Swiss franc market to land a new senior non-preferred issue slightly inside its euro curve this week. In recent weeks, several foreign borrowers have tapped the market and, with tightening levels looking attractive, bankers are confident more could follow.

SciClone Pharmaceuticals bagged HK$2.18bn ($281.2m) after pricing its IPO high on the back of storming demand from institutional and retail investors, according to sources close to the deal.

SK Holdings pocketed W1.12tr ($1bn) from a block trade of SK Biopharmaceuticals, but the deal hit the South Korean drug company’s share price hard, sending it tumbling more than 17%.

Hong Kong-listed Hope Education Group has tapped equity investors for $595.5m from a combined top-up share placement and debut convertible bond.

L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (Spac), is planning a $250m IPO, according to a filing with the US regulator.

China Aoyuan Group had to pay up to sell a $350m bond on Monday, as investors demanded compensation for the property company’s low rating and the deal’s long tenor.

GardaWorld, the Canadian security firm, has pulled out of its hostile bid for G4S, leaving the way clear for US rival Allied Universal.

Indian auto parts firm Sona Comstar is set to file paperwork for an up to Rp60bn ($827.9m) IPO, according to a source close to the deal.

SciClone Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures a possible treatment for the coronavirus, hit the IPO market with a HK$2.18bn ($281.2m) offering on Friday.

The financial institutions bond market had its Roger Bannister moment this week, as Deutsche Kreditbank broke the zero yield barrier for the first time. Now that a German borrower has lifted the negative yield taboo, bankers expect even deeper yielding deals could follow.

If you want to be Europe’s leading global investment bank, you've got to have a leading role in the UK, the region's biggest fee pool. And that means having a strong corporate broking platform, writes David Rothnie.