See Naples and buy

In the west, shrinking government, and regions competing for funds under the euro; in the east, a need to upgrade infrastructure and outshine the sovereign credit. The emerging European municipal bond market looks more attractive than bank debt. Marcus Walker reports.

Brave little Saxony-Anhalt

Moscow: life under a collapsing sovereign

Europe’s heads of debt origination can’t agree on whether a significant new class of borrowers is emerging. But the figures show that city and regional governments Europe-wide are turning increasingly to international investors for finance.

Municipal treasurers have discovered the roadshow, the yankee bond, and the Eurobond market. In 1990, just one local authority in the whole of Europe issued an internationally targeted bond: the German state of Baden-Württemberg, with a Dm300 million, six-year reverse floater.

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