Credit - 2009-04-09

Stopping the rot

Noises from leading banks that they may be returning to profitability are failing to mask the painful truth that vast quantities of toxic assets are still causing a stink on banks' balance sheets. Credit looks at the various plans being put forward to…

Heineken

Our regular look at groundbreaking and innovative deals in the primary markets takes in the £400 million unrated Heineken deal, and BP's monster $3.25 billion offering

The price is right

Consensus on the input assumptions that financial institutions use to value structured finance securities is crucial if the market is to reach a universally agreed method of pricing these impaired assets. By Peter Jones of Standard & Poor's

Robert Stheeman

The head of the UK's Debt Management Office, the body responsible for administering the wave of recent government issuance, tells Sarfraz Thind that the recent failed auction doesn't spell a death of demand for gilts

Turbulent times for airport issuers

Europe's airports are tightening their belts as macroeconomic pressures erode balance sheets and credit quality. Alexandre de Lestrange from Standard & Poor's reviews the factors influencing the agency's rating decisions on the 12 airport issuers

Legal spotlight

The global nature of the financial crisis has led to an unprecedented spirit of co-operation amongst securities regulators in different jurisdictions, says Robert Brownlie

On the crest of a wave

Corporate bond volumes have been soaring as companies scramble to meet their funding requirements in the wake of the loan market's demise. Simon Boughey looks at whether this wave of issuance is a temporary phenomenon or whether it heralds a permanent…

Klaas Knot

One of the architects of the Basel II Accord - and a senior Dutch regulator - defends the framework against criticisms that it was ineffectual in the face of the recent banking turmoil

Sting in the tail

Credit spreads on highly rated names have blown out to levels that are proving irresistible to many buy-and-hold investors such as pension funds. But tail risk in the form of increased default expectations is still a major consideration. Blake Evans…

The great bond buyback

The Bank of England has kicked off its repurchase scheme for sterling high grade bonds, but opinion is divided over whether the subsequent tightening of spreads is down to the government initiative or extraneous factors. Laurence Neville reports

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here