Eivind Hegelstad, COO and head of investor relations at SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt, spoke to The Covered Bond Report’s Neil Day about the bank’s plans for 2013, its high profile in the US dollar market, and whether or not the Norwegian regulator is right on asset encumbrance.

Moody’s put on review for downgrade commercial mortgage backed covered bonds issued by Norway’s SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt on Monday, but affirmed those of SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and Møre Boligkreditt, while S&P changed the outlook from stable to negative on Finnish issuance from Bank of Åland.

As the year draws to a close, we at The Covered Bond Report and Crédit Agricole CIB would like to take the opportunity to thank you, our readers, for your interest in Nordic Financial Institutions & Covered Bonds.

DLR Kredit wrapped up the 2012 year-end refinancing auction season for Denmark’s mortgage banks on Monday after Nykredit finished its sales last Thursday, with the issuers reporting that the auctions resulted in record low rates for borrowers.

The past year has offered both issuers and investors quite a few surprises, writes Robin Bagger-Sjöbäck, Nordic FIG DCM Origination, Crédit Agricole CIB.

Representatives of three leading Nordic issuers joined Crédit Agricole CIB and guests for a covered bond discussion in Frankfurt at the beginning of December.

Moody’s concluded a review of five Norwegian regional banks today (Thursday) by downgrading the long term issuer ratings of three savings banks and affirming two, while keeping on review for downgrade the rated members of the SpareBank 1 alliance and cutting SpareBank 1 Gruppen.

BRFkredit is planning to launch a Eu500m senior deal early next year after having set up a Eu4bn EMTN programme, and the Danish issuer’s group treasurer told The Covered Bond Report that the inaugural issue could be a Section 33e senior secured deal.

DLR Kredit cut its ties with Moody’s on Monday, a move that it had planned for some time and was able to implement after its General Capital Centre was rated by S&P last week, and the issuer believes having triple-A ratings in place is having a beneficial impact on its December auctions.