Oman to declare dollar bond issue

The government of Oman is expected to announce the launch of a new US dollar bond issue this week as it seeks to plug a budget deficit caused by low oil prices, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Citi, HSBC, JP Morgan, Societe Generale and Standard Chartered have been appointed to lead the transaction, the sources said. Telephone calls to Oman’s finance ministry went unanswered.