Briefs: Macquarie to close Risk Advice Specialists, AOFM launches 20-year bond, farmers start year o 24 March 2015 5:07PM Banking Day staff Briefs, Macquarie Group will close Risk Advice Specialists, a boutique advisory dealer group operating under the Macquarie finance services licence. Financial Standard reports that the five Risk Advice Specialists planners will move to other licensees outside Macquarie's financial advice business. Risk Advice Specialists was launched in 2012 with six advisers recruited from Patronus Risk Specialists. It focused on life, trauma and disablement cover and estate planning advice. The Australian Office of Financial Management yesterday announced the issue by syndication of a new 2.75 per cent 21 June 2035 Treasury Bond. The initial issue size is expected to be between A$3 billion and $5 billion in face value terms, the announcement said. Initial price guidance for the issue is a spread of 46 to 51 basis points to the implied bid yield for the primary ten-year Treasury Bond futures contract. The issue is expected to be priced on Tuesday, 24 March 2015. Farming community confidence is at its highest level since 2011, the Rabobank Rural Confidence survey has found. Confidence was at a positive net reading of 32 per cent, up from a negative position of minus six per cent in the previous survey in December. Medianet said confidence was up in all states and across all commodity sectors, with the exception of sugar, which has been impacted by a surplus of global supply. Rabobank group executive for country banking Australia, Peter Knoblanche, said "the positive sentiment was being driven by a combination of factors improved commodity markets, a good start to the season in many areas and the lower dollar - all against the backdrop of historically low interest rates." Westpac has welcomed the government's recently announced indigenous employment initiative, but stressed that continued workplace support and engagement are vital if employers are going to help close the gap, Finsia news reports. Group executive of Westpac Retail and Business Banking, Jason Yetton said: "As a top 200 employer, we believe the objective of employment parity for people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is an important one. We also know that recruiting people is not enough. Success can only be achieved if indigenous Australian employees feel supported and engaged in our workplaces and enjoy long-lasting careers in which they attain professional and personal satisfaction."