Moody’s has improved its outlook on the Swedish banking system from negative to stable, citing the positive impact of strong economic growth on asset quality and profitability, but the rating agency also warned of the consequences of a housing boom.
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) sold an inaugural sterling covered bond yesterday (Thursday), a £250m (Eu353m, Skr3.29bn) three year FRN, and the issuer’s head of treasury management said that it would now look to return to the UK market each year.
Swedbank priced an inaugural Australian dollar bond on Wednesday, a A$390m (Eu252m, Skr2.36bn) issue split into a A$325m three year FRN and a A$65m 10 year fixed rate tranche, which an official at the issuer said offered diversification and attractive funding.
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) built a “rock solid” order book for a Eu1bn long seven year covered bond issue on Monday, according to an official at the Swedish issuer, who said the euro market continues to offer more attractive pricing terms and volume access than its domestic market.
Third quarter results of the big four Swedish banks came in below consensus expectations this week, with the impact of persistently low interest rates on net interest income (NII) and weak capital markets cited as contributing to the weaker than expected performance.
Swedbank Hypotek reopened the sterling covered bond market after two months without benchmark supply on Wednesday, and although the FRN was priced 10bp wider than preceding deals an official at the issuer said the sterling market still offered attractive funding.
The Swedish government is proposing to introduce a 2% minimum overcollateralisation requirement in legislation so the country’s covered bonds will meet the criteria necessary for exemption from central clearing obligations for OTC derivatives under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).
Swedbank exceeded expectations with a covered bond on Tuesday after SR-Boligkreditt sold a well-received debut on Monday, and the Nordic issues were identified as being among the strongest results during a busy week in which spreads widened and many deals struggled to find demand.
Svenska Handelsbanken sold a ¥66.8bn (Skr4.67bn, Eu496m) three tranche Samurai last Friday (28 September) in its third visit to the Japanese market in three years and against a volatile market backdrop.
Sweden’s Skandiabanken is seeking bondholder approval to transfer two outstanding Norwegian krone senior unsecured FRNs to a new subsidiary in Norway it is establishing ahead of a fourth quarter IPO of its banking operations in that country.