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BNP Paribas has created a new role for valued banker Brian Lazell as head of credit markets Asia Pacific ex-Japan. Lazell's former role, global head of emerging markets, has been phased out, and BNPP was keen to keep Lazell on staff. His newly created position in Asia gives him responsibility for all credit derivatives, bond markets and securitisation activity in the region, encompassing origination, syndicate, sales, trading and research. "On a practical level, I will be increasing the bank's breadth and depth of activity of these products in Asia," Lazell told EuroWeek.

It has been a tough week for dealers who have had to put on a professional front while pitching for MTNWeek's awards. But Leak was most impressed with one pitch in which one tired trader likened the ABS market to a 'red-headed step child', i.e. the least popular member of the family. MTNWeek's auburn-haired editor was not offended though. The house will still be considered for fifth-best dealer in the market. Barclays's Monja Blattner was crowned Kohlkonigin, or cabbage queen, at Bremer LB's annual party for winning charades. She was given a tin pig to wear around her neck, and taken for a walk around a lake during which she had to drink a shot of schnapps at every 50 paces. Leak is proud to say that at MTNWeek's awards even the losers will be treated better than that. At least they will be indoors. Some will go to any lengths to seduce the judges. Vorarlberger's Hannes Leitgeb is convinced he will win something this year, not for his programme's performance, but because he sent the judges a picture of his four beautiful female traders. Thank you Hannes, they are very beautiful. Leak thinks the Spice Girls will have a run for their money. JPMorgan's MTN desk will report to Alex Haidas when Rob Nankivell leaves the desk at Easter.

In a highly unusual double for the Asian capital markets, the Republic of the Philippines and the Federation of Malaysia launched global benchmark issues within hours of each other this week.

Mexico has filed a ¥500bn ($3.8bn) shelf and renewed its dollar funding shelf, raising hopes that it will soon return to the international markets. Bankers at Japanese bond houses, however, told EuroWeek that it might be some months before the Samurai market improves enough to enable Mexico to issue in yen.

Egypt National Bank of Egypt is in the market looking for a new $250m term loan.

The Republic of Portugal this week issued its second syndicated OT of the year, a Eu2bn August 2007 benchmark, via ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, Caixa Geral de Depositos and SG. Portugal's debt agency, the IGCP, took the unusual step of launching the issue simultaneously with an exchange offer out of the February 2007 OT, which added Eu332m to the issue, or 13% of the outstanding bond.

Hungarian bank OTP is preparing some Huf95bn (Eu390m) of domestic mortgage backed bonds via its new mortgage bank subsidiary this year. "We are already arranging private placements, and hope to do our first mortgage bond this quarter or next," said a banker at OTP in Budapest. "We hope to bring in institutional buyers for the first time with the public offering. We are also considering an international mortgage bond next year, although this is at a very early stage."

*Eurofima Rating: Aaa/AAA

RiskMetrics Group, the global financial analytics and technology company, has launched a suitability scale to help financial advisers and fund managers meet client expectations about how much risk and downside they are taking on. Ranging from short term plans to speculative plans, the scale is applied over the group's benchmark risk measure, RiskGrade. The suitability scale is aimed primarily at asset managers who handle funds for private investors, as well as independent financial advisers. A rising number of costly arbitrations over client risk expectations and subsequent handling has provided one good reason for developing the scale, says Michael Thompson, market strategist at RiskMetrics. "We provide a third party standard, with no conflicts," he said. Such disputes have already become headline news in the institutional arena, following the Unilever versus Merrill Lynch Asset Management case.

*Deutsche Apotheker- und Aerztebank eG Rating: A2/A

Market report Compiled by Richard Favis, RBC Capital Markets, Johannesburg