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THE Latin bond issue queue is brimming with high quality deals scheduled for launch in coming months as names like Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, Pemex and Petrobras look to take advantage of improved investor sentiment. This week the Federative Republic of Brazil took bids for a DM1bn 10 year bond; Venezuela is understood to have mandated a $500m 20 year deal to JP Morgan for issue in the first half; Uruguay is expected to launch a $200m 10 year deal via ABN Amro before the end of March; Pemex this week began roadshows for a $700m seven and 20 year Yankee bond and Petrobras will make its first entrance this year with a $100m to $150m two year issue via Chase.

* International Bank of Reconstruction and Development Rating: Aaa/AAA

* BGB Finance (Ireland) plc Guarantor: Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG, Berliner Bank AG, Landesbank Berlin Girozentrale

THE STEADY decline in dollar spreads during 1998 appeared to slow this week, with the five year sector in particular beginning to buckle under the weight of supply. The turning point of the softening came on Tuesday, ensuring mixed receptions for issues launched that day.

A STRING of small and medium cap companies from Germany are gearing up to issue new shares, spurred on by the rising domestic demand for equity. According to bankers, more of them are also electing to list their shares on Frankfurt's main market and the Neuer Markt. Merrill Lynch and West LB were mandated for one such deal this week when they were hired as bookrunners for the flotation of Kamps, one of the largest retail bakeries in Germany.

* Wolters Kluwer NV Amount: Dfl 500m

Croatia Inter Ina (Guernsey) Limited, the offshore subsidiary of Croatia's energy company, held a bank meeting yesterday (Thursday) for its Merrill Lynch arranged $100m 7-1/2 year term loan. The loan, which has an amortising element, is priced at 120bp over Libor -- an ambitious margin despite the fact that the borrower is registered in Guernsey.

Brazil * Banco BBA Creditanstalt

* Bank of Nova Scotia Rating: Aa3/AA-

THE EUROPEAN Investment Bank took advantage of the continuing demand for sterling assets and the lack of supply of Gilts at the long end of the curve by launching its largest and longest ever transaction in the sector. The £750m euro-fungible offering due December 2028 was increased twice by lead managers Barclays Capital and Goldman Sachs, and continued the EIB's strategy of launching benchmark issues in sterling as Gilt substitutes.

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* ABN Amro and Salomon Smith Barney have secured the mandate to lead manage the first Eurodollar deal by the National Bank of Hungary (NBH) since August 1994. The two banks emerged victorious from a shortlist of eight banks which comprised four European and four US bidders. The planned $300m five year issue for the Baa3/BBB- rated borrower will be roadshowed in Italy, Switzerland and the UK next week, with launch expected shortly thereafter. Given Hungary's limited fundraising needs, the NBH is fast gaining a reputation for launching opportunistic, tightly priced issues. The forthcoming transaction is expected to emerge at an aggressive-looking spread of 80bp over Treasuries.