French corporates swing to bonds on bank nerves

By Josie Cox

LONDON, Sept 22 (IFR) - French corporates' fears that long-standing relationships with their domestic banks will sour have brought a surge of investment-grade companies from the region to the bond market, seen as a competitive and more stable funding source.

Sovereign debt exposure, and fears that tighter regulation will make it tough for banks to maintain traditionally cheap lending arrangements are driving companies to reassess their funding ...