Structured finance performance robust

Last week, Fitch Ratings noted that the performance of Australian and New Zealand structured finance transactions remained robust in the December 2009 quarter, as reflected by a total of 28 publicly r.. read more

Auckland rates may secure retail bond issue

The start to the new year was much more sedate across the Tasman. ANZ National Bank raised NZ$100 million for three years in the domestic market, priced at 105 basis points over swap, while BNZ, ASB a.. read more

GMIC downgrade tolerable for Genworth

Standard & Poor's last week affirmed its 'AA-/Stable' financial strength ratings on Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance Pty Ltd, the main operating entity for the mortgage insurance business of.. read more

Corporate default rate expected to fall

The week before last, Standard & Poor's released its latest global data on corporate defaults for 2009. The total came to 265 corporate defaults, and the highest annual tally since S&P started.. read more

A quarter for consolidation in debt markets

With the end of 2009 just about upon us, we can reflect on what a year it has been. At the start of the year the outlook for financial markets remained bleak, after the collapse of the global banking.. read more

BOS only bond vendor at home

There was only one bond issue in the Australian market last week, this being from the Australian branch of Bank of Scotland Plc. The bank returned with another Commonwealth government guaranteed, 15-m.. read more

A busy week in New Zealand

New Zealand was the more active of the domestic markets last week, with Watercare Services, World Bank and Westpac all undertaking bond issues. Goodman Property Trust and University of Canterbury (see.. read more

RMBS bond expected from Westpac

Talk also emerged on Friday that Westpac is preparing to launch a A$1 billion mortgage-backed bond issue, which, according to Reuters, will include a triple A rated tranche priced at 130 bps over bank.. read more