LF Hypotek priced the first Swedish euro benchmark covered bond of the year on Tuesday, a Eu500m no-grow seven year that was one of three deals in the market on the same day in what was a busy week for euro covered bonds.
Swedbank priced the second Nordic bank capital trade of the year on Monday, a Eu750m 10 year non-call five Tier 2 transaction that an official at the issuer said was launched in anticipation of final capital requirements from the Swedish FSA.
Nordea has received approval to apply the advanced internal ratings-based (IRB) approach to its corporate exposures in the Nordic region, which will boost its pro forma Q3 2013 Core Tier 1 capital ratio by 0.7 percentage points, the bank said yesterday (Wednesday).
Moody’s placed the A2 rating of SBAB Bank on review for downgrade on Tuesday, a day after the bank announced the departure of its CEO, with the rating agency citing profitability and the fate of new product offerings among challenges facing the bank.
Svenska Handelsbanken printed the first bank capital issue of 2014 on Tuesday, a Eu1.5bn (Skr16bn) 10 year non-call five subordinated bond that was swamped with demand to pave the way for the tightest pricing of a Tier 2 issue since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, according to a lead syndicate banker.
The Swedish FSA suggested increasing the risk weight floor for mortgages from 15% to 25% upon releasing its latest report on risks in the financial system today (Thursday), citing a very high level of household debt in Swedish households.
Tight spreads tempted SEB to bring forward Q1 2014 issuance plans and launch a Eu1bn seven year covered bond benchmark on Monday, the bank’s head of treasury management told Nordic FIs & Covered.
Stadshypotek priced a Eu1bn seven year covered bond yesterday (Wednesday) to kickstart what could be a series of Nordic FIG deals in euros as issuers from the region emerge from blackouts and face enticing spreads and cross-currency levels.
A proposal by Sweden’s FSA to oblige lenders to suggest mortgage loan amortisation plans to some borrowers could, if implemented, lead to increased paydown rates and eventually a possible decrease in target OC in some Swedish covered bond programmes, according to Standard & Poor’s.
Swedish banks will kick off the Q3 earnings season next week. Alex Sönnerberg, Nordic DCM Origination, Crédit Agricole CIB, considers the prospect of them emerging from blackouts with new euro benchmarks.