High quality assets, strong regs leave banks in fine condition

Australia’s leading banks emerged from the global financial crisis in better shape than many of their international peers. But some analysts still question the banks’ perceived over-dependence on wholesale markets and their exposure to a housing market regarded by some observers as frothy. To date, local and international investors in the senior unsecured, covered and subordinated bond market remain relaxed about these potential vulnerabilities, which were discussed in the EuroWeek Australian Financial Institutions Roundtable, which took place in August.