Asia bond markets retreated slightly last week with USD investment grade bond index spreads widening 2.1bps or 1.29% WoW. This week, markets are awaiting the Kansas Fed Annual Policy Symposium at Jackson Hole on 27-28 August as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will speak on the Fed’s policy framework review.
Key economic releases for the week
Monday, 24 August 2020: SG CPI YoY (13:00PM)
Wednesday, 26 August 2020: SG Industrial Production (13:00PM)
Thursday-Friday, 27-28 August 2020: Kansas Fed Annual Policy Symposium
Past week: Key events
A new bond issue by Hysan Development in China drew strong investor demand for its fixed-for-life perpetual bond non-call 3 years, with a comparatively shorter call date and higher coupon. Final order books were nearly 10x oversubscribed, allowing the deal to price 45bps tighter from IPG. Bonds continued to perform on the secondary market, trading more than 2 points above reoffer. Fixed-for-life perpetual bonds could help ease current investor adversity to perpetual bond non-call risk.
FOMC minutes from the July meeting affirmed that the Fed was not considering yield curve control. US 10Y treasury yields rose, in response, to 0.68% from 0.64%.
Olam Internaltion Ltd successfully issued a 5.5 year senior unsecured bond at 4% on monday. Final issue size was S$400mn while orderbook was over S$900mn.
