The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its Securitisation Data Snapshot for Q1 2026. AFME reports that European securitisation issuance totalled €59.6 billion in Q1 2026, representing a 6.3% decrease from Q4 2025 and a 3.1% decrease from Q1 2025. Of this, €43.3 billion was placed, compared with €37.8 billion placed in Q4 2025 and €38.0 billion placed in Q1 2025. In Q1 2026, pan-European collateralised loan obligations led placed totals, increasing from €14.0 billion in Q4 2025 to €15.9 billion. This was followed by UK residential mortgage-backed securities, which decreased from €5.2 billion to €4.9 billion, and German auto asset-backed securities, which increased from €1.1 billion to €3.2 billion.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its government bond data report for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025. The report shows that EU member states and the UK issued €944bn of government bonds and bills, down 7.7% quarter on quarter (QoQ) but up 5.2% year on year (YoY). Secondary market trading volumes were 11% lower QoQ and 10% higher YoY. The outstanding stock of European ESG government bonds increased to €610.9bn, reflecting new issuance and tap operations.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its High Yield, Leveraged Loan, and Private Credit report for the fourth quarter of 2025. The report provides market data showing European leveraged debt markets issuance totalled €445.8bn in proceeds in 2025, representing a 2% increase from €438.5bn in 2024. Direct lending origination reached €103.2bn in 2025, with private credit's contribution to total leveraged debt markets rising from 19% in 2024 to 23% in 2025. High yield bond issuance decreased to €148.9bn from €168.3bn in 2024, whilst leveraged loan origination increased to €193.7bn from €188.1bn in 2024. The report indicates European high-yield bond defaults increased in Q4 2025, with the trailing 12-month speculative-grade bond default rate standing at 4.0% at the end of December 2025 according to S&P, whilst Moody's reported default rates increasing from 2.73% in December 2024 to 3.9% in December 2025.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its Securitisation Data Snapshot Q4 2025. AFME reports that European securitisation issuance rose in 2025, with €252.3bn issued, a 3.0% increase from 2024. Of this total, €156.3bn was placed (62%), led by Pan-European Collateralised Loan Obligations (CLOs) (€60.5bn), UK RMBS (€25.6bn) and German Auto ABS (€12.9bn). EU placed issuance (excluding CLOs) reached €57.0bn, compared with €38.2bn in the UK.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published the second edition of its UK Capital Markets Key Performance Indicators Report, benchmarking the UK's capital markets performance against global peers including the US, EU, China, Japan and Australia. The report finds the UK maintains its position as a leading global financial services hub, accounting for 17% of global exports, but identifies declining performance in several areas including IPO activity, green finance and global equity market share. Key findings include the UK's global equity market share falling from 10% in 1990 to 3.4% in 2025, green bond issuance of €7.2bn trailing China (€41bn), Germany (€26.8bn) and the US (€26.3bn), and de-listings outpacing new listings in early 2025. The report calls for delivery of reforms outlined in the UK Government's Financial Services Growth & Competitiveness Strategy, particularly those relating to modernising capital markets, driving innovation, encouraging retail investment and supporting sustainable finance.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its Capital Markets in the UK Key Performance Indicators report for 2025, assessing the UK capital markets progress across eight benchmark indicators. The report finds UK IPO activity under continued pressure with only one year since 2016 where new listings exceeded delistings, while SME access to equity risk capital remains challenging despite the UK leading European peers in pre-IPO funding.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published a position paper which outlines its five-point plan to revive the securitisation market in the EU. In its ‘EU Securitisation back on track’ paper, the AFME proposes reforms that will use securitisation as a tool to support EU growth and strategic objectives and resolve current regulatory hurdles, whilst maintaining the existing safeguards embedded within the regulation.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its Government Bond Data Report for Q4 2025 (4Q25) and the full year 2025. It reports that EU Member States and the UK issued €877 billion in bonds and bills in 4Q25, representing a 7.2% decrease quarter on quarter (QoQ) and a 3.7% increase year on year (YoY). European government bond trading rose by 6% in 2025 compared to 2024. During 4Q25, traded volumes increased by 1% QoQ and 6% YoY, while the outstanding amount of European ESG government bonds reached €612.4 billion. The report also notes 17 upgrades and 5 downgrades in full-year 2025 credit ratings, including Slovenia’s upgrade to A2 in February 2026. In addition, there were changes in European primary dealerships, with a net increase of three participants affecting several sovereign markets and the average bid-cover ratio stood at 2.26 in 4Q25.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its Q4 2020 Government Bond Data Report. The report includes the latest statistics from Europe on government bond primary and second markets.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), in collaboration with several other financial market trade associations, has issued a joint statement emphasising the integral role that credit ratings have in the EU's post-trade transparency framework for corporate bonds. As the European Securities Markets Authority finalises its analysis of the regime, the associations strongly encourage policymakers to incorporate credit ratings to differentiate between investment grade and high-yield corporate bonds; resulting in: alignment with other global bond markets; improved transparency for more liquid bonds; and the protection of market liquidity where necessary.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), Commercial Real Estate Finance Council (CREFC) Europe and International Capital Market Association (ICMA) submitted a joint response to the European Securities and Markets Authority's (ESMA) consultation on revising private securitisation disclosure requirements. The joint response argues against: introducing a simplified reporting regime for EU-originated securitisations before wider reforms, citing concerns about potential changes to private securitisation definitions, continued template-based reporting requirements, and unresolved third-country reporting issues. They propose an alternative approach focusing on supervisory reporting needs while allowing more flexible investor disclosures.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), the European Data Warehouse and True Sale International have published their ninth biannual European Benchmarking Exercise report, covering H1 2025 private securitisation market data. Drawing on voluntarily submitted transaction-level information from 12 banks across six European countries, the organisers assessed the quality and usefulness of disclosure in the private cash securitisation market, excluding collateralised loan obligations, synthetic securitisations and public asset-backed securities. The market was estimated at €256.7bn, with €83bn of commitments represented in the dataset. Trade receivables and auto loans or leases together accounted for around 73% of commitments, rising to 87% when consumer loans and equipment leasing were included. Most transactions were originated after the 2019 Securitisation Regulation. AAA commitments remained stable at €24bn, A-rated commitments declined, BBB remained the dominant seller rating, and 87.2% of rated commitments were graded A or above.