Quarterly Outlook
Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges
Althea Spinozzi
Head of Fixed Income Strategy
Head of Fixed Income Strategy
Summary: Ukraine sold $270 million worth of "war bonds" in local currency. Yet, foreign appetite remains untested. The country might have a brief window of opportunity to test foreign demand before volatility intensifies in bond markets.
As Ukraine is fighting to keep Russian troops at bay, the bond market is surprised by the commitment of the ministry of finance to secure the settlement of budgetary payments. Yesterday, Ukraine's US dollar bonds with maturity in September this year received $290m worth in coupon payments. A default was not an option for the ministry of finance because, as history showed, the restructuring of Ukraine’s debt in 2015 hindered Ukraine's access to the debt market for a long time.
On the same day, Ukraine sold $270 million worth of “war bonds” in local currency with a coupon of 10% and 11% and maturity two months and one year, respectively. The bond sale happened despite Russian troops advancing towards Kyiv, and the central bank imposed capital controls, making it difficult for foreign investors to participate in the auction.
According to the finance ministry, this is not the last war bond sale we'll see. However, the big question is whether Ukraine will issue short-term hard currency bonds, which would attract the attention of a much wider audience of foreign investors. Whether overseas investors would or would not participate in such an auction depends on the yield offered by the bonds and the risk appetite in that specific moment in time.
Even if Ukrainian bonds plunged since Russia started the conflict, they are much better positioned than Russian peers. The Russian market is totally paralyzed following the latest sanctions, with most banks and brokers offering to sell Russian bonds only, killing demand as a whole.
Disclaimer
The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.
Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)