Sustainable bonds face hurdles; bad loans among landlords; AI investments up
Today is Tuesday, May 23, 2023, and here’s your weekly selection of essential intelligence on financial markets and the global economy from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Subscribe to be notified of each new Insight Weekly.
In this edition of?Insight Weekly, we take a close look at the development of the sustainable debt market. Experts say banks and governments have mostly avoided raising funds through sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) amid regulatory hurdles, investor skepticism and other challenges, making the widespread adoption of the instrument unlikely in the foreseeable future. Fifteen index-eligible SLBs have observation dates this year, with several issuers facing the risk of higher coupon payments as external factors impact their sustainability performance. Banks are mulling alternative sustainable bond structures to expand their issuance capacity. Analysts expect to see increasing issuance of social bonds and other instruments linked to green transition activities. European Union negotiators have agreed to a new green bond standard that aims to aid market growth. However, the new standard may see limited initial uptake as disincentives weigh on issuers, according to market participants.
European banks are expected to face an increase in bad loans among owners of old and poorly located office buildings. The impact of environmental, social and governance policies on occupiers, investors and lenders is casting doubt on the viability of secondary assets outside prime locations in major cities.
Private equity and venture capital firms have invested $10.34 billion in the global artificial intelligence and machine learning sector through 342 transactions in the year through May 14, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. The US and Canada had the most number of transactions during the period, with 147 deals worth an aggregate $5.05 billion.
Sustainable Debt Market in Focus
Sustainability-linked bonds face growth barrier as key issuer groups steer clear
Regulatory hurdles, investor skepticism and other challenges mean banks and governments have largely steered clear of sustainability-linked bonds to raise funds, with widespread adoption of SLBs unlikely in the foreseeable future.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Higher costs loom for sustainability-linked bond issuers as deadlines approach
As a growing number of SLBs approach their observation dates, issuers face a risk of higher funding costs if they fail to meet their targets. But missed targets could have a positive impact on the broader SLB market.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Banks embrace alternative sustainable bonds as green loan supply diminishes
Analysts expect banks to issue more social bonds and instruments linked to transitional activities, while their green bond supply may start to lose pace.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
New EU green bond standard may see low uptake with challenges exceeding benefits
Stringent criteria, data unavailability, high costs and potentially heightened liability risk mean that many green bond issuers will find it too difficult or risky to adopt the new standard.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Deep Dives
In-depth features looking at the impact of major news developments in key industries.
Financials
US banks well-positioned to handle CRE defaults even as rates rise???????
Defaults in the consumer real estate loan market are expected to be spread over time, reducing the risk of a credit crunch among regional banks exposed to office and retail loans.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
US banks go on defense, revamp balance sheets in Q1 2023??????
Banks are increasingly relying on wholesale funding.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Europe's banks face higher bad loans linked to old, unwanted office buildings
Secondary office assets face "a perfect storm" of environmental, social and governance policies, green building regulations, remote working and rising interest rates that threaten the ability of their landlords to finance debt.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Japan's megabanks expect overseas loans to help drive profits in fiscal '24
Japan's three megabanks expect their net profits to keep rising in the current fiscal year that started on April 1, helped by strong loan demand abroad despite higher interest rates.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Insurance
Insurtech Root's private auto combined ratio tops 200% for 2nd straight year
An S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis found that Root had a private auto combined ratio of 277% in 2022, up from 256.8% in 2021 and 186.8% in 2020.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Real Estate
US REIT average short interest unchanged in April
The self-storage segment booked the biggest gain in average short interest across all property types, up 68 basis points from the previous month to 3.3% of shares outstanding as of April 28.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Private Equity
Private equity investments in AI, machine learning tick up in Q1
Global private equity investments in the AI and machine learning segment came to $5.81 billion across 247 deals in the first quarter, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Credit and Markets
Euro adoption: After Croatia, who's next?
Following Croatia's accession on Jan. 1, 2023, seven out of 27 EU member states are yet to adopt the euro.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Energy and Utilities
领英推荐
RRA Research: Voters overwhelmingly reject El Paso climate change referendum
During a special election May 6, voters in El Paso, Texas, soundly rejected Proposition K, a climate change policy measure that could have also led to the municipalization of El Paso Electric Co.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Efforts to remove billions in US fossil fuel subsidies face uphill battle
President Joe Biden's 2024 budget eliminates special tax provisions for oil and natural gas companies, which the White House estimates would save the US Treasury $31 billion over the next decade. The industry is fighting to preserve them.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Gas utilities increasingly focus on pipeline blending in hydrogen pilot projects
Gas utility operators continue to pilot hydrogen production, storage and end uses, but demonstrating that natural gas networks can safely carry the fuel has emerged as a key priority among more than three dozen projects.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Technology, Media and Telecommunications
451 Research: Mind the gaps: Security, privacy, preference as drivers of customer experience
Stronger data security and stewardship practices could be drivers of customer trust and engagement rather than impediments to the acceleration of customer experience outcomes. But organizations must resolve internal friction points to get there.
451 Research is part of S&P Global Market Intelligence.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Metals and Mining
Australian rare earth explorers struggle to capitalize on decade-high spend
Rare earth explorers and developers say they need to do a better job communicating to investors to attract the significant funding needed to turn Australia into a major global producer.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Supply Chain
Russian Shadow Shipping – Emerging New Owners
Prior to the introduction of the G7 oil price cap in December 2022, a number of vessels moved from direct Russian ownership or nationality to new companies domiciled in India and the United Arab Emirates.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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Sustainability
New crop of US investment firms vying for opportunities amid anti-ESG backlash
Activist firms with a conservative strategy say they offer an alternative for investors who might feel overlooked by stakeholder capitalism and socially minded corporations.
—Read the full article from S&P Global Market Intelligence
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The Week in M&A
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Bank M&A 2023 Deal Tracker: 8 deals announced in April
Terminated US bank deal value total hits record high after TD-FHN deal scrapped
Illinois credit union secures 2nd bank deal in 5 months
Investors see lack of capital discipline in Oneok-Magellan deal
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The Big Number
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Compiled by Alex Virtucio