Oceania

Investors were delighted to add more exposure to Macquarie Group on Wednesday, after the Australian issuer returned to euros for its second senior deal of the year.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced plans to explore the potential uses and implications of a central bank digital currency using distributed ledger technology. The RBA follows the Banque de France, which last year worked with Société Générale to settle a crypto covered bond — a product that offers a number of ways to deploy blockchain technology.

ING has appointed Uday Sareen as head of wholesale banking for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

United Overseas Bank achieved the tightest spread for a five year floating rate bank issue in Australian dollars in over 10 years this week, issuing A$750m ($532.0m) to prove that there is still demand at decade-low levels.

A pair of Asian banks tapped the Australian dollar bond market for a combined A$1.25bn ($880m) on Tuesday. A number of banks have visited the Aussie market in recent weeks to great success, and more are set to follow.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank issued a A$500m ($362.2m) bond in Australia on Friday, as a lack of financial paper in the market drove investor demand.

Singapore’s DBS Bank ventured into the Kangaroo market on Wednesday in search of tier two debt. Though Australian dollar tier two volumes have remained stable year on year, there is a marked decline in offshore issuance so far in 2020.

Australia’s fourth syndication of its financial year has set a new size record — the third time it has done so in as many months — but despite the wave of Australian govvie supply, demand still seems fierce.

The Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) has launched its fourth syndication of its 2020/21 year.

The Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) has announced that it will syndicate a new six year deal next week – marking the first time the sovereign has sold more than three syndications in a single fiscal year.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, one of the world's largest owners of shopping malls, launched a €9bn-plus turnaround plan on Thursday, which includes a €3.5bn rights issue. The aim of is to reduce its leverage to help it withstand the Covid-19 pandemic.

The New Zealand Treasury reduced its 2020/21 funding programme by NZ$10bn ($6.75bn) to NZ$50bn on Wednesday as its economy shows signs of a quicker recovery than seemed likely after the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year.