Nordic bond markets

Nordic bonds led the world in performance last year, as investors applauded economic recovery and fiscal restraint. Although the upside now appears limited, they still provide a yield pick-up over German bonds. Norman Peagam reports.

A EUROMONEY SURVEY – MARCH 1996

Niche market offers select investment opportunities

After rapid growth in the past few years – driven mainly by budget deficit financing – prospects for foreign investors in the Nordic bond markets look increasingly dull. One of the biggest problems, despite growth, is size. For example, by 1994, the four markets (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) had publicly-issued bonds of around $550 billion; but government bonds only amounted to $17 billion in Norway, $20 billion in Finland, $77 billion in Sweden and $90 billion in Denmark, making a total of only around $200 billion.

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