In 2015, U.S. companies are forecast to cross the Atlantic toraise funds in euros at the fastest pace in at least eight years,as borrowing costs in Europe fall below dollar rates by the most ina decade.

Apple Inc., Verizon Communications Inc., and Albemarle Corp. led68 billion euros (US$83 billion) of bond issuance by Americanborrowers this year, the busiest since 2007 and 45 percent higherthan 2013, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The number willbe surpassed next year as depressed funding costs endure, accordingto Barnaby Martin, a credit strategist at Bank of America MerrillLynch, and Jens Vanbrabant, the lead money manager at London-basedECM Asset Management Ltd.

While Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen has set the stagefor higher U.S. borrowing costs next year, European interest ratesare predicted by economists to remain at record lows. As inflationin the region is poised to turn negative, momentum is building forthe European Central Bank (ECB) to start a quantitative easingprogram of government bond purchases to boost growth.