Japan

Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) has mandated leads for the first euro covered bond from the UK since January, My Money Bank has also mandated and, after concluding a roadshow, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is due this week too. All three bonds will offer a temptingly high spread.

Credit Suisse has appointed Ryuya Hishinuma to lead its investment banking and capital markets business in Japan, according to an internal memo.

The Development Bank of Japan will kick-off a series of investor calls on Thursday for its first sustainability bond under its freshly updated framework, which includes assets related to its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fédération des Caisses Desjardins du Québec (CCDJ) mandated leads for its first dollar covered bond in a year on Monday. The issuer joins Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, which on Monday crystallised plans to press ahead with its debut deal following a period of soft marketing, while Swedish non-conforming lender Bluestep Bank commenced marketing on Monday.

Mizuho Financial Group will be looking to time the sale of a new senior deal very carefully this week, with euro market conditions still proving challenging for issuers.

Japan’s banks have faced multiple crises over past decades, but the coronavirus pandemic has thrown out some fresh surprises — and could challenge their future growth, writes William Pesek.

What impact has Covid-19 had on Japan? The answer is complicated. No major economy has done so well at containing the spread of the virus — or so badly at limiting the economic fall-out. William Pesek reports.

Covid-19 has fundamentally changed how the world operates — and capital markets are no exception. In Japan, it has shown the potential of the bond market to serve the common good.

The Bank of Japan has used every implement in the monetary policy toolbox to try to kick-start the economy. Does it have any tricks left to fight the impact of the coronavirus? Matthew Thomas reports.

The Bank of Japan has long been the driver of yields in the government bond market. It has increasingly become a key player in corporate bonds as well, creating opportunities for issuers and investors alike.

Samurai bonds have taken a big hit this year due to Covid-19, with deal volumes slumping by more than 75%. This has not only tested the resilience of the market — but also raised serious questions about its long-term prospects.

The Covid-19 pandemic has spurred a shift in Japan’s socially responsible investment (SRI) bond market, which has long supported green deals but is now turning its focus to other environmental, social and governance products.