Syndicate dealers claimed the new issue market for corporate bonds in Europe had finally returned to good health after they sold a two-tranche debt deal for Lafarge, the France-based building firm, in double-quick time.
"There has been a change in the market and we are now back to normality," said one syndicate manager working on Lafarge's new issue. "This is the first time a name like this, which is a slightly cyclical credit, has been able to come in such size and even increase its deal," he said.