Kangaroos lead the domestic market
Two months into 2010 and issuance in the domestic corporate bond market is slightly ahead of where it was at the end of February 2009. Year-to-date issuance totals A$15.6 billion (taking the rolling 12-month issuance total to A$101.2 billion) compared with A$15.4 billion at the same time last year.However, there is a substantial difference in the composition of the issuance. This time last year the domestic banks accounted for 91 per cent of year-to-date issuance - now they account for only 18 per cent. It is the supranationals and agencies that have driven activity this year with A$9.6 billion of bonds issued so far - 61 per cent of year-to-date issuance. The remainder has come from the local operations of international banks.The supranationals and agencies kept up the pace of issuance last week with issues from KfW, Eurofima and Asian Development Bank. KfW started the week with a A$250 million addition to its May 2015 line, taking outstandings to A$1.25 billion. This is the third addition to the line since it was opened in April 2005 and was priced at 40 basis points over swap and 82 bps over Commonwealth government bonds.Eurofima last issued in the domestic market in May 2008 but last week added A$200 million to its January 2014 line, priced at 42 bps over swap and 98.25 bps over CGS. The line was originally opened in January 2004, at A$300 million. ADB raised A$600 million with a new 10-year bond priced at 33 bps over swap and 78 bps over Commonwealth bonds.