Pre-emptive rates sell off may be a phantom tantrum
Australian fund managers, strategists and traders remain sceptical of the apparent rationale behind a bond sell-off that has seen local long-end yield spike after creeping higher in previous months. The price move appears to reflect greater inflation expectations and an interest rate hike before the Reserve Bank Australia’s forecast of 2024, but there is some evidence that it is not being backed by substantial repositioning activity.
Charter Hall LWR charts new course for corporate issuance
In its debut issuance, Charter Hall LWR printed the tightest spreads for seven- and 10-year tenors by a triple-B rated corporate since at least the financial crisis. Lead managers say conditions remain well set for corporate borrowers planning to issue debt in Australia.
AOFM reviving ABSF with enhanced purpose from stalled 2020
Nearly a year since the Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) deployed its first investment from the Australian Business Securitisation Fund (AOFM), the government debt-management agency is seeking to reinvigorate its mandate to develop the SME financing market. COVID-19 forced a focus on emergency liquidity mechanisms and put the ABSF on hold, but the AOFM believes the experience may now allow it to fast-track its longer-term ABSF aims.
Sovereign upgrade puts New Zealand in rare air
New Zealand became the only sovereign rated by S&P Global Ratings to be upgraded since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, on 22 February. The one-notch upgrade – to AAA – was driven by the country’s effective response to the pandemic and also improves the rating of related government agencies and local councils.
Full set of green lights for Suncorp as more bank senior supply looms
Suncorp-Metway’s return to senior-unsecured issuance revealed the scale of pent-up demand for Australian financial institution (FI) credit even at record tight pricing. After a period of virtually no senior bank issuance, Suncorp expects FI issuance to pick up during 2021 as credit growth and savings drawdowns accelerate.