Offshore option better for banks
With the exception of BEN's RMBS issue all last week's issuance activity by domestic issuers took place in the Euromarket.National Australia Bank kicked things off raising €1.25 billion for ten years, priced at 123 basis points over mid-swaps.With the ten year euro-Australian dollar basis swap being around 54 bps and allowing for other on-costs, the Australian dollar swapped back price would have been in the order of 200 bps, although some market sources had the spread as wide as 210 bps to 220 bps.Later in the week, ANZ added CHF100 million to the July 2016 line it opened last month, taking outstandings to CHF425 million. Pricing was unchanged at 60 bps over mid-swaps.CBA sold A$125 million of EMTNs with a September 2013 maturity and a 5.75 per cent coupon, while GE Capital Australia Funding (AA+) sold A$250 million of EMTNs with a five year term to maturity and a 7 per cent coupon. Following a domestic roadshow in June, SPI (Australia) Assets Pty Ltd. (A-), decided to go offshore instead with a CHF175 million, six-year bond issue. The issue is guaranteed by Jemena, another related company of Singapore Power.