Japan

Covered bonds have drifted wider over the last few weeks, reflecting heavier than expected supply and diminished market maker interest. Even so, the primary market is functioning healthily, boding well for prospective debut deals from Münchener Hypothekenbank and SMBC, deals that could surface as early as Tuesday.

China and Japan confirm details of currency swaps and plans to invest more in third party markets, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) renews the license of nine authorised institutions as Primary Liquidity Providers (PLPs) for the CNH market in Hong Kong and Singapore sets up new government agency to bridge the funding gap facing Asia’s infrastructure projects.

Guarantor: Japan

Three public sector borrowers shrugged off a rally in US Treasury yields to issue a combined $8.25bn in the primary market this week.

Japan Bank for International Cooperation took advantage of the lack of competing supply and good demand in dollars to suck $3bn out from the primary market on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Province of Alberta has mandated banks for its third benchmark of the year.

AVI Japan Opportunity Fund, a new activist investment fund focused on undervalued cash-rich and over-capitalised Japanese equities, is set to begin trading on the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday, after the company priced its IPO.

China’s top financial regulators coordinated statements boost stocks, Japan and China to resume currency swap agreement, and MoF announces additional details on personal tax cuts.

Public sector borrowers could bring dollar benchmarks next week ahead of the limited funding windows of November. Floating rate issuance was the main play in the sector this week, with Municipality Finance falling just short of full subscription as it brought the latest in the format on Thursday.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has mandated leads to roadshow the first ever Japanese covered bond. The RMBS-backed deal is expected to appeal to a broad universe of traditional investors and will set the tone for Japanese megabanks and other borrowers in what could be a rich supply vein for covered bond investors.

The benchmarking arm of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) opened an online portal on Wednesday that gives market participants information on alternative risk-free rates designed to replace the Ibors, as well as forward-looking term rates based on the sterling overnight index average (Sonia).

Rating: A1/A

The Development Bank of Japan was able to tighten pricing on a €700m October 2025 sustainability bond this week, something not every issuer has found possible in the currency in the past few weeks. Meanwhile, the World Bank tapped an old friend for $200m with a green bond.