Luxembourg

GlobalRMB has launched a new Monday round-up, featuring key market and regulatory developments from the weekend. This edition includes: mixed RMB FX performance, unexpected delay to the Shenzhen Connect, and Luxembourg looking to join the Belt and Road Initiative.

In this round-up: RMB indices record a stabilisation of the currency against the trade-weighted baskets, Hong Kong RMB deposits increase nearly 2% in September, and the China cross-border interbank payment system (CIPS) expands to 400 indirect participants. Plus, a recap of our top stories this week.

The Irish and Luxembourg subsidiaries of Depfa Bank confirmed that they bought a combined €4.8bn covered bonds from FMS Wertmanagement (FMS-WM) which will be cancelled with the underlying assets sold back to the state-owned wind down agency, of which it is a wholly owned subsidiary.

Goodman European partnership, the Luxembourg property vehicle managed by Australian Goodman Group, was alone in the euro market on Thursday with a dual tranche sub benchmark trade.

FMS Wertmanagement (FMS-WM) has bought most of the outstanding covered bonds issued by the Irish and Luxembourg subsidiaries of the Depfa Group and could soon remove their ratings.

FMS Wertmanagement (FMS-WM) has bought most covered bonds issued by the Irish and Luxembourg subsidiaries of the DEPFA Group and should soon remove their Aa2 rating.

Lecta Group, the southern European coated paper manufacturer, on Friday printed a €600m two tranche bond in a high yield market comfortably readjusted to post-Brexit times, as issuance surpassed €2.5bn in five days.

ICBC Luxembourg became the Chinese lender’s fourth overseas unit to issue a fixed rate dollar bond this year, raising $800m from a three year offering.

The outcome of the Brexit referendum has cast a shadow over London’s ability to maintain its status as Europe’s foremost RMB business hub. In this lowdown, GlobalRMB pits three other European capitals – Frankfurt, Luxembourg, and Paris – against the City as the most likely contenders for Europe’s RMB crown.

The market reaction to the UK’s surprise decision to leave the European Union has been immediate with stocks falling, the pound weakening and the country downgraded by international rating agencies. But market participants are worried that the worse has yet to come and London could be set to lose its shine as a premium renminbi hub.

The Mutual Recognition of Funds (MRF) scheme has had a relatively slow start, but Chinese regulators are said to be looking at Luxembourg to expand the scope of the progamme, GlobalRMB has learned. But difficulties abound in bringing the project to reality.

Clearstream has confirmed that it is working with the Chinese authorities to establish a link between offshore investors and the China interbank bond market (CIBM). The firm also said it will boost its Stock Connect capabilities from July 4.