Italian Sovereign
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European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde refused to be drawn into naming a specific spread target that the central bank will defend in a press conference on Thursday but investors may find out for themselves in the wake of the meeting. BTPs sold off sharply after Lagarde spoke, perhaps indicating that the central bank has not done enough to convince investors of its support. -
Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte won a vote of confidence in the country's senate last night, removing the immediate threat of the government he leads collapsing. Relieved investors flocked back to Italian assets in the aftermath but Italy’s political troubles are unlikely to be over.
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Italia Viva has withdrawn its ministers from the support of the Italian government, sparking a political crisis in the country. However, Italy’s sovereign bonds are trading within a comfortable range versus Bunds thanks to the support of the European Central Bank.
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Public sector borrowers soaked up huge demand in the euro market on Tuesday including the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, which printed its biggest ever 100 year bond despite offering a yield of less than 1%.
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Italy is at an advanced stage with its green bond framework with a highly anticipated debut deal in the format expected to arrive this year, according to the Italian Treasury.
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Italian MPs are threatening to use a vote in parliament this week to derail a recent EU agreement on planned reforms for the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).
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Italy made a strong return to the dollar market on Tuesday with a deal over three times covered, which came following the conclusion of the sovereign’s second BTP Futura bond sale at the end of last week.
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Dollars was the flavour of the day for public sector borrowers on Tuesday as three issuers headed to the currency, raising a combined $12bn. Two more SSAs will follow with dollar deals on Wednesday.
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Italy received less interest for its second BTP Futura bond last week than its inaugural deal in the format earlier in the year.
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Italy held a series of investor calls on Thursday in preparation for a trip to the dollar bond market. Italy returned to the currency last year after almost a decade away, and announced that it intends to access the market every year.
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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, October 26. The source for secondary trading levels is ICE Data Services.
