Qatar Weighs Dollar Bond as Emerging Markets Are in High Demand

(Bloomberg) -- Qatar is weighing plans to tap international bond markets as soon as the first quarter, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Officials in the gas-rich nation are talking to banks and potential investors to gauge interest for a possible dollar bond, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.

Qatar is likely to sell less than the $12 billion it raised during its last bond sale in March, the people said. The country had $2.5 billion maturing last month and another $3.5 billion next year.

The world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas, whose debt carries the fourth-highest investment grade at S&P Global Ratings, raised $12 billion in March.

Qatari officials didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Emerging-market borrowers are racing to soak up demand for riskier assets. Saudi Arabia raised $5 billion when it sold Eurobonds in January and Bahrain’s Mumtalakat also issued debt.

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