Nederlandse Waterschapsbank

Outside observers may have been surprised to see European bond markets reopen after a short summer break this week. However, those involved in the market thought it a sensible move, write Nigel Owen, Craig McGlashan and Tyler Davies.

Nederlandse Waterschapsbank brought some supply to the sparse long end of the SRI market on Tuesday, printing a trade that alongside Rentenbank was part of a strong re-emergence of euro supply after the summer.

The euro market for public sector borrowers appears to be fully reopening after the summer break, with a pair of issuers bringing mandates in very different tenors. Both trades are likely to benefit from the lack of supply over the last few weeks, said bankers.

Nederlandse Waterschapsbank on Thursday became the latest issuer to tap into a hot summer market for dollars, increasing a tap from its initial size while printing flat to its curve.

Public sector issuers are taking advantage of strong summer conditions in the dollar market to bring green and arbitrage-style deals, with more issuance expected next week.

Two European agencies are set to launch dollar transactions on Tuesday, defying any talk of a summer slowdown to take advantage of supportive conditions.

Nederlandse Waterschapsbank this week became the first European SSA to print in the Swiss franc market since 2015, followed by Municipality Finance two days later. Favourable moves in the euro/Swiss franc basis, alongside rising Swiss interest rates, opened a window for old borrowers to return.

Municipality Finance on Thursday became the second European SSA to enter the Swiss franc market this week, after Nederlandse Waterschapsbank became the first European SSA to place Swiss bonds since 2015.

Nederlandse Waterschapsbank has become the first European SSA to print in the Swiss market since 2015, citing a favourable move in the euro/Swiss franc basis swap as a reason for the return.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) raised A$100m ($76.1m) on Tuesday by tapping its June 2026 Australian dollar bonds. It was joined later in the week by Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Investment Bank, which launched a tap that is expected to be priced on Friday.

The Inter-American Development Bank raised A$100m ($76.1m) on Tuesday by tapping its June 2026 Australian dollar bonds, despite the remaining maturity falling short of where most long end Kangaroo demand resides. Meanwhile, Nederlandse Waterschapsbank responded to reverse enquiry, tapping its 3.5% July 2027 bonds for A$15m.

Four European agencies, and a New Zealand sub-sovereign found funds in the Kangaroo market this week. Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB) on Tuesday priced a 10 year tap of a Kangaroo bond some 10bp tighter than where the original issue priced in January. Bankers said the pricing was an indication of the sheer levels of demand for long dated Kangaroo paper.