Bonds: Selective rate hikes in the primary market continue
The Ministry of Finance once again agreed to raise rates for several bills where demand exceeded UAH1bn (US$27m), which allowed it to rise UAH5bn (US$137m). But rate increases remain selective.
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Last week, the MoF offered both UAH and USD-denominated bills, but the demand for FX-denominated paper was insignificant. The largest amount of funds, UAH3.3bn (US$89m), was raised from the 1.5-year ordinary (non-military) paper and another UAH1.2bn (US$31.5m) from four-month military bills.
But to receive these funds, the Ministry of Finance had to accept bids with a higher interest rate than a week before: rates rose to 14 percent for military bonds maturing in April next year and 19 percent for 1.5-year non-military paper. See details in the auction review.
Last week, the volume of trades on the secondary market was UAH4.1bn (US$111m), including almost UAH3bn (US$80m) of trades in ordinary and UAH1.1bn (US$31m) in military bonds.
This is the largest volume of trades in military bonds on the secondary market since August. But it was due to the transfer of bonds purchased in the auction last Tuesday from the primary dealer to its client for UAH1.06bn (US$30m).
ICU view: Investors tried to get higher rates from the Ministry of Finance by submitting large bids with slightly higher interest rates. This move paid off, and the Ministry accepted these bids by increasing the cut-off rates by 50bp for two local-currency securities.
On Wednesday, Nov. 16 another domestic debt repayment of almost UAH20bn (US$546m) will take place, of which UAH15bn (US$410m) will be the principal redemption. So, we can expect bids in larger volume and with higher rates tomorrow. Still, most likely, investors will prefer the secondary market that offers a broader selection of instruments.
Bonds: Ukrainian Eurobonds supported by positive news
The prices of Ukrainian Eurobonds continued to rise last week. This trend was supported by positive news about new international financial assistance planned for Ukraine along with improving global sentiment towards developing markets. Spreads of Ukrainian Eurobonds to the benchmark narrowed by 211-465bp, and prices increased by 4-16 percent or 1-3 cents to 22-28 cents.
Such prices correspond to September levels, or before large-scale missile attacks and the destruction of energy infrastructure happened. The prices of VRIs increased by 9 percent or almost three cents to 31 cents.
ICU view: The news about the readiness of Western partners, in particular the EU, to maintain substantial financial support for Ukraine until the end of the current year and in 2023 likely contributed to the increase in Eurobond prices.
Last week’s shelling and damage to the energy infrastructure did not have an immediate material impact on the perception of Ukrainian risk by investors. Another important positive factor is the general improvement in the attitude of investors towards emerging markets. However, it is still too early to assume this trend is sustainable.
FX: FX market remains stable
Fluctuations in the hryvnia cash exchange rate remain insignificant, so the situation on the FX market remains broadly stable. The leading retail banks strengthened the hryvnia cash exchange rate over the past week to UAH39.7‒40.4/US$ from UAH39.8‒40.5/US$ the previous Friday. Such a change is insignificant and within a 0.2 percent range.
The situation improved in the interbank market, and the NBU reduced interventions to US$182m. This was due to the stable and sizable supply of hard currency from banks’ clients, including from the Ministry of Finance.
ICU view: The cash market continues to balance the exchange rate around UAH40/US$ thanks to the saturation of the market with cash and the absence of panic sentiment. The interbank market remains under the complete control of the NBU, which took advantage of larger FX supply in the market and reduced its interventions.
RESEARCH TEAM: Vitaliy Vavryshchuk, Alexander Martynenko, Taras Kotovych
Complete report at https://icu.ua/en
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