1. The total size of the global debt securities market: $98.4 trillion
Data compiled by the Bank for International Settlements, http://www.bis.org/statistics/intfinstatsguide.pdf
> The Financial Times recently reported that China's economy is slowing, profits are falling and its stock market is drifting down, but its corporate bond market is moving in the exact opposite direction: it is booming. Bond issuance was up about 60 per cent by volume in the first half of 2012, compared to last year. The major reason for this has been regulatory reform, with officials clearing away some of the obstacles that have stood in the way of the development of the bond market.
> French region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has issued a 12 year, AA-rated, €119.5m “socially responsible” bond with 75% of proceeds going to environmental projects (renewable energy, energy efficiency, transport) and 25% to social housing. The bond was significantly over-subscribed. Coupon is 3.6%; joint bookrunners were Crédit Agricole CIB (bravo Tanguy Claquin!) and HSBC France. Insurance companies made up 58% of investors, followed by asset managers at 33%. A third French, almost a third German, and the rest divided between Belgian and Dutch.
You're invited to join Nick Robins from HSBC and Sean Kidney from the Climate Bonds Initiative present a Webinar about the recent ClimateBonds/HSBC report on "Bonds and Climate Change: State of the Market 2012". The report shows that there are $174 bn of climate-themed bonds outstanding in seven different investments areas.
There are two Webinar time options you can choose from:
> German wind company Windreich has placed another €5m of 5 year bonds, taking their issuance to €75m in total. The bond has an investment grade BBB+ rating - wind energy bond ratings are improving all the time! Interest rate is 6.5%. http://goo.gl/KcU5g
