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☆ Japan considering extending gasoline subsidies to year-end - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gasoline fuel guns are pictured in front of fuel boards at a gasoline station in Tokyo, Japan September 20, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Japan's government is considering extending until year-end fuel subsidies to keep gasoline prices below 180 yen a litre, while working on a supplementary budget to finance broader measures, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Earlier, the sources had said the fuel subsidies would be funded by the supplementary budget. Last week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed ruling party officials to consider steps to extend the fuel subsidies which were introduced in January 2022 to help ease cost of living pressures. Gasoline prices have been rising steadily in Japan due to the weaker yen and higher global prices.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Komeito, Toshimitsu Motegi, Shunichi Suzuki, Fumio Kishida, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Katya Golubkova, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Liberal Democratic Party, Finance, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Evergrande loses $2 bln in value as trade resumes; extends creditor voting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Its Hong Kong listed shares plunged 79% to HK0.35 in the afternoon session, narrowing losses from 87% at the opening. Market capitalisation shrank to HK$4.6 billion ($586.38 million from HK$21.8 billion ($2.78 billion) from when it last traded. Its units, China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (0708.HK) and Evergrande Property Services Group (6666.HK), have both resumed trading in the past month after a 16 month halt. The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. ($1 = 7.8442 Hong Kong dollars)($1 = 7.2834 Chinese yuan renminbi)($1 = 7.8447 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Clare Jim; Additional reporting by Donny Kwok Editing by Kim Coghill and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Evergrande, Steven Leung, UOB Kay Hian, Aly, homebuyers, Clare Jim, Donny Kwok, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China Evergrande, HK, Hong, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Energy Vehicle Group, Evergrande Property Services, China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Prism Hong, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, China's, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Prism Hong Kong, Shanghai

☆ Savers dash for Belgian bond aimed at pushing banks to raise deposit rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 25 (Reuters) - Belgium saw 4 billion euros of demand from savers for a new bond it launched on Thursday, its debt agency said, a strong start for the sale aimed at pressuring banks to raise their deposit rates. European lenders awash with cash have been resisting raising savings rates despite a surge in market interest rates as central banks fight inflation, prompting withdrawals by households looking for better returns elsewhere. "We want to boost competition and encourage banks to raise interest rates." On Thursday, the first day of the sale, savers bought 2.098 billion euros ($2.27 billion) of the bond, the debt agency said, followed by at least another 1.902 billion euros so far on Friday. But Jean Deboutte, director at Belgium's debt agency, noted some banks in Belgium had already raised their rates following plans for the new bond.

Persons: Jean Deboutte, Yoruk, Sudip Kar, Susan Fenton, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Yoruk Bahceli, Gupta, Thomson Locations: Belgium, Amsterdam, Brussels

☆ Bond investors show confidence in Schwab after cost-cutting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Matt Tracy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The company logo for Financial broker Charles Schwab is displayed at a location in the financial district in New York, U.S., March 20, 2023. The announcement led to a 5% fall in Schwab shares on Tuesday but did not hurt investor appetite for its new bonds. "The strong response shows bond investors, at least in the near term, have gotten over their worries about the credit fundamentals of top-tier regional banks after the banking crisis in March," said Richard Wolff, head of U.S. syndicate at Societe Generale (SOGN.PA). Schwab's bond trade also drew attention as new investment grade bond supply this month has so far been lower than expected. Counting Schwab's $2.35 billion in bonds, investment-grade bond volume sits at just $3.45 billion for the week and $67.1 billion so far in August, according to Informa Global Markets data.

Persons: Charles Schwab, Brendan McDermid, Schwab, Richard Wolff, Dan Krieter, Brian Mulberry, David Del Vecchio, Natalie Trevithick, Matt Tracy, Nupur Anand, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Societe Generale, BMO Capital, Zacks Investment Management, Federal Home Loan Bank, Payden, Informa, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Los Angeles

☆ The Federal Reserve is likely to keep rates high. Here's a strategy to generate income and reduce risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Near-dated Treasurys have seen a sizeable boost since the Federal Reserve has embarked on its rate-hiking campaign, and a strategy that allows investors to generate income in the short term is taking off. To that effect, the firm this week launched a trio of Treasury bond laddering strategies: six-month, 12-month and 24-month offerings, managed by its Wasmer Schroeder Strategies team. "There are two bond investors: total return and income," Lafferty said. "For income investors, those higher yields are still at the shorter end, and these might be people who are pulling income out of their portfolio or retirees who need to spend their current income," he added. For investors who are thinking longer term, Schwab offers 5-year to 15-year ladders, as well as a 1-year to 5-year variety.

Persons: Bond, Charles Schwab, Warren Buffett, US3M, David Lafferty, Schroeder, Lafferty, Schwab Organizations: Federal Reserve, Schwab Asset Management, Treasury

☆ Evergrande's liabilities, depleted coffers raise business viability concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The firm announced an offshore debt restructuring plan in March, expecting it to facilitate a gradual resumption of operations and generation of cash flow. Total cash slumped to 14.3 billion yuan, versus 28.8 billion yuan in 2021 and 180.7 billion yuan in 2020. OFFSHORE DEBTCreditors and analysts are now waiting for the convening hearings for Evergrande's offshore debt restructuring schemes in the hope to get more clarity on its business outlook. A company risks being delisted in Hong Kong if its shares remain suspended for 18 months. Hong Kong Stock Exchange said it does not comment on individual companies as a policy.

Persons: Charles Macgregor, Evergrande, Clare Jim, Himani Sarkar Organizations: HK, Lucror, Evergrande, Services, New Energy Vehicle Group, Prism, Shanghai Limited, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Asia, China's, Hong Kong, Cayman Islands, Prism Hong Kong

Parts of Europe and the southern United States are expected to experience record-breaking highs, with consequences for human health and economic activity. As China faces sweltering heat, John Kerry, the U.S. climate envoy, met with the country’s premier to urge cooperation in fighting climate change. Microsoft and Activision reportedly plan to extend a deadline for their deal. The Competition and Markets Authority, which had previously moved to block the transaction, has set an Aug. 29 deadline for the talks. Under new rules negotiated by the Treasury Department, American businesses now have until 2026 before other countries can start imposing new levies on corporations deemed to have paid too little in the United States.

Persons: Fink, Jamal Khashoggi, John Kerry, isn’t, Elizabeth Warren, Tesla, Elon Musk, Biden Organizations: Investment Initiative, Northern, Microsoft, Activision, Bloomberg, The, Markets Authority, Massachusetts Democrat, Elon, Twitter, Treasury Department Locations: Saudi, Europe, United States, China, U.S, Massachusetts

☆ China drives Burberry first-quarter sales jump
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A person walks past a Burberry store undergoing refurbishment on New Bond Street in London, Britain, March 11, 2023. REUTERS/Henry NichollsLONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - British luxury fashion brand Burberry (BRBY.L) on Friday reported an 18% rise in its first-quarter comparable store sales, in line with market expectations thank to continued recovery in China. CEO Jonathan Akeroyd said outerwear and leather goods were performing well and he was excited about new products from designer Daniel Lee arriving in stores in September. Lee, who joined in September, unveiled his debut collection at London Fashion Week in February. Like-for-like leather goods sales increased 13%, with women's bags, especially the Frances shapes and vintage Burberry check performing well, the company said.

Persons: Henry Nicholls LONDON, Jonathan Akeroyd, Daniel Lee, Lee, Frances, Suban Abdulla, Paul Sandle, David Goodman Organizations: Burberry, New, REUTERS, London Fashion, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, China, Europe, Americas

LONDON/NEW YORK/HONG KONG (Reuters) -For hedge funds, the second half of 2023 is all about pouncing on the ways in which inflation, aggressive rate hikes and decarbonisation are shaping the economy. Five prominent funds shared their ideas using five different asset classes to trade on this uncertainty. The ideas do not represent recommendations or trading positions, which hedge funds cannot reveal for regulatory reasons. 1/ UBS O’CONNOR* Alternatives platform, with both hedge funds and credit* Size: $9.5 billion* Established in 2000* Key trade: Long so-called “busted” convertible bonds, or hybrid securities where the stock trades below its option conversion price. Seminara favored long positions in investment grade bonds and shorting high yield ones via the iTraxx Europe and iTraxx crossover indices.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Casey Talbot, Alpha, ” Talbot, Byron Gill, Howard Smith, Anastasia Tarasova, Tarasova, Andrea Seminara, ”, Seminara, CRAWFORD, ERIC STURDZA, Eric Sturdza, Chris Crawford, Biden, “ They’re, Crawford Organizations: Reuters, Traders, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, UBS, UBS O’Connor, Companies, Indus Capital Partners, Capital, Federal, Redhedge, Asset Management, European Central Bank, ECB, Eric Sturdza Investments, Fund Management, Crawford Fund Management Locations: HONG KONG, New York City, U.S, Asia, Ukraine, Europe

☆ First debt swap Galapagos projects could be approved next year, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

QUITO, June 30 (Reuters) - Conservation projects in the Galapagos Islands funded by so-called blue bonds will be approved from next year by an independent body, Ecuador's Environment Minister Jose Davalos said. The independent non-profit Galapagos Life Fund (GLF) will manage the funds, Davalos told Reuters on Thursday. "Next year the GLF could begin to receive projects, rate them and assign the first funds to finance them," Davalos said. "This is a private fund that will administer money that is given or donated for the conservation of the Galapagos." The fund could finance projects in fishing, tourism, environmental education and the management of the Galapagos ocean reserve, which was expanded last year.

Persons: Jose Davalos, Davalos, Charles Darwin's, Guillermo Lasso, Alexandra Valencia, Julia Symmes Cobb, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Life, Reuters, Resources, Thomson Locations: QUITO

☆ Sri Lanka targets 30% haircut for international, domestic dollar bonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The government also aims to rework its foreign debt with bondholders and bilateral creditors including China, Japan and India. Under the domestic debt revamp, holders of locally issued dollar-denominated bonds, such as Sri Lanka Development Bonds (SLDBs), will be given three options, Weerasinghe said. "We are asking foreign debt holders for a 30% haircut but that is still under discussion," Weerasinghe said. "Sri Lanka is under enormous pressure to restructure as quickly as possible and get its economy back on track, they need funds to import a lot of goods to reinvigorate their key tourism industry," Lutz Roehmeyer, fund manager at Capitulum Asset Management, who holds Sri Lanka international bonds. "A 30% haircut is too little given the shape the country's economy is in."

Persons: Nandalal Weerasinghe, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Weerasinghe, Lutz Roehmeyer, Uditha Jayasinghe, Rosario, Karin Strohecker, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Himani Sarkar, Kim Coghill, Simon Cameron, Moore, Toby Chopra Organizations: Saturday International, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Sri Lanka Development, Capitulum Asset Management, Sri Lanka, World Bank, Sri, Jorgelina, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Britain, China, Japan, India, United States

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden meets with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2021. Washington also wants to wean India away from its traditional defence partner Russia. Though Modi has made several previous visits to the United States, this will be his first with the full diplomatic status of an official state visit, just the third of Biden's presidency and third by any Indian leader. "It’s a milestone in our relationship...It is a very significant visit, very important visit," India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Monday. Modi will also meet American CEOs and lead an International Yoga Day event at the UN headquarters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Modi, Vinay Kwatra, Kwatra, General, Ely Ratner, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Raja Mohan, Krishn Kaushik, Sarita Chaganti Singh, David Brunnstrom Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Indian, . Congress, JET, General Electric, U.S ., Defense, Pacific Affairs, UN, Asia Society Policy, Rajesh, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, India, DELHI, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Washington and New Delhi, Pacific . Washington, Russia, New Delhi, Moscow, Ukraine, West, China, Cooperation, New York, U.S, Asia, NEW DELHI

It's focused on maximizing your after-tax yield with a diverse, low-cost blend of bond ETFs. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightWhy you should consider an automated bond portfolioWealthfront's automated bond portfolio pays a 5.59% yield, which is higher than Wealthfront's own cash account that pays 4.55% to 5.05%. Also, the automated bond portfolio may be tax-advantaged, but there's no guarantee that it will work. But neither platform offers automated investing specifically for bond ETFs, so passive investors are better off with Wealthfront. It also invests in a blend of commission-free bond ETFs and iShares bond ETFs.

Persons: Wealthfront, —, Charles Schwab, you'll Organizations: Bond, Service, SEC, Reading Chevron, Treasury, Fidelity, Wealthfront

For some, the answer to exuberant markets lies in the ample cash still sloshing around the financial system. Total global liquidity, a measure of cash and credit in the world economy, has risen to almost $170 trillion in June, Crossborder calculates, from $158 trillion in October. Central banks have added a net $1.7 trillion into money markets since November, it also estimates, a move that correlates with a risk-taking trend. But an alternative scenario is that U.S. money market funds, stuffed with cash after depositors fled regional banks in March, buy enough newly issued Treasuries to keep rates stable. "Liquidity is not a force that reverberates immediately into financial markets," said JPMorgan global market strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou.

Persons: Michael Howell, Crossborder, Richard Clarida, Georgina Taylor, Ken Taubes, reverberates, Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, Morgan Stanley, Luca Paolini, Paolini, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Dhara Ranasinghe, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: U.S . Treasury, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Crossborder Capital, U.S, Reuters, BNP, JPMorgan, Apple, Thomson Locations: Japan, U.S

☆ Exclusive: World Bank chief to 'push' its balance sheet, vows to protect 'AAA' rating
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The World Bank Group made total lending commitments of $104 billion last year. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Banga as he took office on June 2 that she wanted him to "get the most" from the World Bank's balance sheet. But Banga said he viewed the idea as largely unviable, because long-term project loans against liquid central bank assets could create a dangerous asset-liability maturity mismatch. Using "callable capital" -- funds pledged but not paid-in by rich countries that can be called on to back World Bank losses -- is another option, advocated in a G20 report on multilateral development bank capital adequacy. He said he hoped to be able to provide details on what the bank could do in this regard by the time of its annual meeting in October.

Persons: Ajay Banga, Banga, Janet Yellen, I'm, David Lawder, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, Bank, AAA, World Bank Group, MasterCard, Treasury, World Bank, Thomson Locations: KINGSTON, Jamaica, Peru, Banga, U.S

☆ Natural evolution: Record Galapagos deal sparks clamour for eco-friendly debt swaps
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The growing appetite comes as record numbers of developing world governments face debt pressures due to higher global interest rates. There have been around 140 over the past 35 years, but even including last month's super-sized Galapagos deal they have only involved around $5 billion of debt altogether. The top-level attendees will be urged to do more, not only debt swaps, but also by providing foreign exchange guarantees and automatic debt-payment breaks for countries hit by climate-related disasters. "Seeing something that has a group of countries involved would be amazing," Issa said. Ecuador says it is eyeing another transaction to capitalise on the halo effect from the Galapagos deal.

Persons: Ramzi Issa, Charles Darwin's, Issa, Ilan Goldfajn, Scott Nathan, Nathan, Emmanuel Macron, Mia Mottley, Suisse's Issa, Simon Jessop, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Ecuador, Credit Suisse, Inter, American Development Bank, U.S . International Development Finance Corporation, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Ecuador, Belize, Barbados, Gabon, Paris, Sri Lanka, Indian, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles

It's focused on maximizing your after-tax yield with a diverse, low-cost blend of bond ETFs. Here's everything you need to know about the new Wealthfront automated bond portfolio. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightWhy you should consider an automated bond portfolioWealthfront's automated bond portfolio pays a 5.48% yield, which is higher than Wealthfront's own cash account that pays 4.55% to 5.05%. Also, the automated bond portfolio may be tax-advantaged, but there's no guarantee that it will work. It also invests in a blend of commission-free bond ETFs and iShares bond ETFs.

Persons: Wealthfront, —, Charles Schwab, you'll Organizations: Bond, Service, SEC, Reading Chevron, Treasury, Fidelity, Wealthfront

The draft plan, which was presented at Kishida's top economic advisory panel on Wednesday, underscored the challenge for the leader, who is seen as a fiscal hawk, to strike a balance between economic growth and fiscal consolidation. The closely-watched policy framework will be approved by Kishida's cabinet this month, along with a separate action plan on his "new capitalism" agenda. "We will not abandon the flag of fiscal reform," Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto told reporters after the panel's meeting. "There's no change to the government stance of striving to achieve a primary budget surplus in fiscal 2025," Goto added. The framework said the government will conduct a review of any progress of its fiscal reform in the fiscal year 2024 so as to create a medium-term economy and fiscal scheme.

Persons: Fumio Kishida's, Takahide Kiuchi, Shigeyuki Goto, Goto, largesse, Kishida Organizations: Nomura Research Institute, Liberal Democratic Party, LDP ₎, International Monetary Fund, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan

TOKYO, June 7 (Reuters) - Japan is committed to mobilise all policy options available while putting the economy before fiscal reform, according to a draft of the government's mid-year policy framework reviewed by Reuters on Wednesday, signalling its will to keep the fiscal spigot wide open before looming elections. Kishida, who is seen as a fiscal hawk, also hopes to strike a delicate balance between fiscal stimulus and the unwinding of it, with the framework calling for normalisation from crisis-mode fiscal largesse. "We have not abandoned the flag of fiscal reform," the framework said, in a tacit reference to Kishida's aim of bringing a primary budget surplus, excluding new bond sales and debt servicing costs, by the fiscal year ending in March 2026. The target was originally set to be met in the early 2010s but has pushed back four times. Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fumio, Kishida, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Reuters, Liberal Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Ukraine

☆ The U.S. reached a deal on the debt ceiling. Here’s what might be next for investors in Treasurys
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The worst of the debt ceiling crisis is over now that lawmakers have passed a bill and sent it to President Joe Biden for signing, but investors are about to see an influx of Treasury securities enter the market. A large issuance of new Treasurys could push down prices of holdings in investors' portfolios. While large investors scoop up the new T-bills, the extent to which individual investors capture the benefit will also depend on the Federal Reserve's policy stance. "As you get past the debt ceiling, getting paid on your cash is still a concern, and doing it with T-bills where you still get a 5% yield is attractive," Tannuzzo said. "Interest rates have been so low, and to see 4%, 5% on T-bills – you can make money on money, and that's wonderful," Shagawat said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Morgan Stanley, Gene Tannuzzo, Tannuzzo, James Shagawat, Greg McBride, Shagawat, Treasurys, he's, Michael Bloom Organizations: Treasury, Columbia, Federal, Federal Reserve, AdvicePeriod

Banks typically sold these perpetual bonds - known as AT1 bonds - with five years before an option to repay was triggered. In the past, investors got their money back, and banks replaced the bonds with new ones, but some are changing tack. The banks' actions show how the wipeout of billions of dollars of Credit Suisse AT1 bonds still reverberates around this market, which is estimated at roughly $275 billion. "The AT1 market is splitting," said Alessandro Cameroni, a portfolio manager at asset manager Lemanik. SHOCK ABSORBERThe AT1 bonds were designed to help banks absorb losses, and they count towards their capital buffers.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Banks, Alessandro Cameroni, Lemanik, Peter Harvey, Federated Hermes, Italy's, Morgan Stanley, Karsten Junius, J . Safra Sarasin, Chiara Elisei, Carlo Giovanni Boffa, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, Suisse, Raiffeisen Bank, Reuters, Deutsche, Aareal Bank, Credit Suisse, Investors, Federated, Lloyds, Societe Generale, UBS, Santander, J ., Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Ukraine, Swiss, Schroders, Russia

☆ How screwed is WeWork? One of its bonds trades at 56 cents on the dollar, and Fitch Ratings thinks default is a real possibility.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Alistair Barr | Joe Ciolli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

One of its bonds trades at 56 cents on the dollar, and Fitch thinks default is a real possibility. One of WeWork's bonds, which matures in 2025, recently traded at 56 cents on the dollar, according to Bloomberg data. A healthy company's debt often trades at 100 cents on the dollar, or at a very slight discount. Fitch upgraded WeWork's issuer default rating to 'CCC-', in a nod to the debt restructuring. Discussions of debt restructuring represent a striking new low for a company that used to be one of the most valuable startups ever.

There are some signs that the broader $275 billion AT1 market is recovering. Reuters GraphicsLast month, Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T) was the first major global bank to sell AT1s since the March rout. With time, analysts expect UBS to sell AT1s aplenty to meet its capital requirements. It has a 700 million Singapore dollar ($755 million) AT1 bond repayable in November followed by a heftier $2.5 billion bond in January. RATINGS GAMEInvestor appetite for a UBS AT1 could also hinge on its future credit profile.

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - Ecuador sealed the world's largest "debt-for-nature" swap on record on Tuesday, selling a new "blue bond" that will funnel at least $12 million a year into conservation of the Galapagos Islands, one of the world's most precious ecosystems. Tuesday's $656 million "Galapagos Bond," as it has been dubbed, will run until 2041 and gave investors that bought it a 5.645% "coupon" or interest rate, its bankers said. Ecuador sovereign bonds currently yield from 17% to 26%, but the new bond has an $85 million 'credit guarantee' from the Inter-American Development Bank and $656 million of political risk insurance from the U.S. International Development Finance Corp (DFC), effectively making it less risky. The driver has been the remote Galapagos Islands, some 600 miles (970 km) off Ecuador's mainland coast, that inspired Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Scott Nathan, the chief executive of DFC, said people needed to "stay tuned" for similar deals in other countries and the Galapagos deal had been a long time coming.

TOKYO, May 2 (Reuters) - Banking sector problems in the United States and Europe were caused by liquidity and interest rates risks, but won't impact on Japan's economy and financial system for now, Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto said on Tuesday. Financial institutions and authorities will need to respond firmly to liquidity risks," Goto said. "I don't see the U.S. financial sector facing big problems." "The BOJ as central bank should tackle monetary policy operations, but I don't see the current financial situation impacting Japan's economy and financial sector as a whole. "I expect the BOJ to guide monetary policy flexibly, meaning that the central bank should do so appropriately taking economy and financial markets into account."

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