Policy & Government
Stanbic Kenya: Political Volatility Will Moderate in 2018, Boosting Debt Capital Markets
Private sector credit growth slowed to record lows this year, but there is reason to believe many of the factors driving this – a drought-induced economic slowdown, political volatility, and an interest rate cap – will moderate in 2018. Wegoki Mugeni, Stanbic Kenya’s head of debt capital markets for East Africa, shares her views on why this is likely to create a supportive environment for more…
4 Jan 2018
ACRA, Russia’s Credit Rating Revolution, and Red Herring Reform
Many foreign credit rating agencies – the Big Three in particular – balked when the Russian government tightened controls on the regulation of credit rating agencies, a move intended to bring more transparency to the sector and eliminate conflicts of interest. Borrowers, analysts and investors are sceptical about the rules’ ability to deliver on its stated goals.
2 Jan 2018
For Bond Bankers and Capital Markets Experts, MIFID II Raises More Questions than Answers
As Europe continues to steam ahead towards the 3 January implementation date for the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II), the continent’s ambitious sequel aimed at making its financial industry safer and more transparent, a lack of certainty around how the rules will be applied is putting bond bankers on edge and prompting difficult questions about how the banking sector is…
18 Dec 2017
Latin America Credit Markets Brief: 9 November – 23 November
Brazil to buy back USD1.82bn of sovereign bonds – Pemex issued a GBP450mn bond – Petrobras inked a USD1bn secured loan – Chile holds rates – Electricidad de Caracas defaulted in a 2018 bond – Venezuela gets downgraded to ‘SD’ – Venezulean authorities arrested top Citgo executives – Entre Rios tapped the international markets with a USD150mn
23 Nov 2017
Middle East Credit Markets Brief: 09 November – 22 November
Kingdom Holdings halts borrowing plans – Citigroup will begin operations in KSA in early 2018 – London Court rules in favour of Dana’s bondholders – ADNOC secures USD6bn dual-tranche loan – Mazoon Electric Company issues a USD500mn sukuk – Lebanon carries out a debt swap – CIB to increase Tier 2 capital
22 Nov 2017
China’s Funding Options for Belt & Road: Will Emerging Markets Make Hay or Get Shut Out?
Unperturbed by global economic woes, geopolitical tensions and the rise of populism in the West, China is committing itself to the largest infrastructure development project since the Great Wall. But the costs of the grand project are expected to run into hundreds of billions of dollars and, with the Chinese banking sector already over-leveraged, questions arise over its ability to finance…
21 Nov 2017
Telecoms Boom to Drive MENA Infrastructure Development Programmes
As GCC states embark on their massive USD3tn infrastructure development journey, the arrival of Amazon, Oracle and other global tech giants could push the telecoms sector into the frontline of that programme. But finding the funding for this costly venture at a time when oil prices are still low and coffers are thinning could prove challenging for the region.
20 Nov 2017
Emerging Markets’ Greatest Bond Villain: Venezuela Enters Record-Breaking Default
In one of the strangest debt crises in recent history, a defiant president Maduro vowed to continue servicing Venezuela’s debt as global ratings and debt settlement agencies declared the sovereign and state-oil giant PDVSA in default. How long can the charade continue?
17 Nov 2017
Russia, CIS, Europe & Turkey Credit Markets Brief: 02 November – 16 November
Petropavlovsk sold USD500mn of fresh debt –– PSB gets downgraded – Rosneft’s shares take a hit due to Venezuelan crisis – Venezuela and Russia agree on debt restructuring –ABLV placed USD40mn of unsubordinated notes – Belarus to issue USD600mn next year – The government to support Turkey’s export sector
16 Nov 2017
Africa Credit Markets Brief: 01 November – 15 November
AfDB issued a USD2bn bond –Afreximbank to mobilise USD100bn to finance new trade deals – First Rand Bank secures dual-tranche syndicated loan – Nigeria to seek USD5.5bn in foreign borrowing – Namibia to boost public spending – DRC fails to account funds from Chinese loan – Chad and Glencore to talk debt restructuring – Army detains Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe
15 Nov 2017