U.S. companies are barreling into European bond markets at the fastest clip since the financial crisis, taking advantage of record-low borrowing costs overseas. On Thursday, Coca-Cola Co. KO, +0.98% became the latest American firm to tap the market, selling €8.5 billion ($9.5 billion) worth of new bonds, the largest euro-denominated bond from an American firm on record and the second-largest by any company in the currency. Bankers say they expect the trend to continue, as yields on benchmark European government bonds keep falling amid concerns about economic growth. The European Central Bank is expected to begin a bond-buying stimulus program later this year, a move that many investors say could further depress bond yields. Including Coke’s sale, the value of bond sales denominated in eurosEURUSD, +0.26% from U.S. firms has more than doubled this year, to about $28 billion from $13 billion over the comparable span last year, according to data provider Dealogic. Selling bonds in euros makes sense for companies such as Coke that have large international footprints, because it allows them to better match liabilities with revenues in the same currency. Companies can also lower their borrowing costs by selling to a new set of buyers. Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/