Westpac returns to RMBS market as deal flow picks up [UPDATED]

Preliminary ratings have been assigned to a new Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac) residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) issue, in what will is the first such issue from a big four bank since the same issuer placed a A$1.6 billion transaction in October last year. The new deal, Series 2012-1 WST Trust, has a volume of A$1.15 billion (US$750.8 million) across its three tranches.