Svenska Handelsbanken is set to become the third Nordic issuer to tap the Samurai market within the space of a month, with soft marketing for the Swedish bank’s debut, senior unsecured issue expected to start tomorrow (Friday).

Swedbank has launched a cash any-and-all tender offer for the remaining stock of its publicly placed government guaranteed bonds to optimise the bank’s funding structure, with the bonds already having been refinanced.

Moody’s has upgraded Swedbank because it considers that the bank’s credit profile has strengthened, and Fitch revised the outlook on Danske Bank from negative to stable due to lower risk from its Ireland exposure.

Pohjola Bank is set to launch its first Samurai issue in the coming weeks, with the Finnish issuer having visited Japan for a deal-related roadshow ahead of the planned senior unsecured transaction.

Norway’s SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt was one of four issuers to launch benchmark euro covered bonds this week despite market conditions remaining tricky after the recent turn in sentiment, while Aktia Bank has embarked upon a roadshow ahead of a debut in its new guise.