New year US corporate bond issuance tally tops $45 billion

U.S. corporate borrowers are raising nearly $16 billion in high-grade rated bonds on Wednesday, adding to a $29 billion issuance binge on Tuesday, as companies looked to grab strong investor demand ahead of economic data releases. Among the issuers was Berkshire Hathaway-owned utility Pacificorp, which raised $3.8 billion in bonds that will be used to repay debt and fund settlement claims related to wildfires in Oregon and Northern California. Other Wednesday deals include $2.5 billion in notes sold by French bank Credit Agricole and another $2.5 billion by the financing arm of automaker Hyundai.