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Yesterday saw a good mix of currencies traded outside of the dominant euro, US dollar and yen markets. European Investment Bank concluded a R50 million ($5.96 million) note that pays interest singularly and has a final coupon of 10.500%. The note reaches out for just under 10 years. It is the 37th South African rand trade this year. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development weighed in with a three-year A$815 million ($475.45 million) note. The note pays interest singularly and has a final coupon of 4.800%. Canadian dollar was the currency of choice for Landesbank Hessen-Thuringen Girozentrale who concluded four notes in the currency - three for C$30 million ($19.39 million) and one for C$35 million. HSBC Investment Bank (Netherlands) (HSBC) and Legal and General (Legal) both looked to sterling for its trades. HSBC issued a £

Hong Kong dollar was the dominant other currency traded on Thursday. There were nine trades in Hong Kong dollar - the largest of which being a HK$156 million ($20 million) three-year note from Spintab. The note pays interest annually and has a final coupon of 4.770%. Commonwealth Bank of Australia acted as bookrunner on a four-year HK$80 million trade by Landesbank Rheinland-Pfalz Girozentrale. After a relatively quiet week, Singapore dollar made a comeback in the form of three trades from Development Bank of Singapore. The three trades totalled a combined S$0.55 million ($0.31 million). Europaische Hypothekenbank der Deutschen Bank boosted sterling's showing with three trades in that currency. The largest of these was a £

Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank issued in New Zealand dollar. The syndicated NZ$100 million ($43.97 million) note matures in 2005 and pays a final coupon of 7%. It is the 11th note in the currency to be issued this year. All have mid-term maturities of three to five years and the average amount is for NZ$100 million. Deutsche Telekom International Finance was the only borrower to dip into sterling. The £

Hong Kong dollar and Singapore dollar were the only two other currencies traded yesterday. Six trades were closed in Hong Kong dollar and two in Singapore dollar. Both currencies attracted only bank names. Royal Bank of Scotland closed a 10-year note for HK$40 million ($5.13 million). It pays a final coupon of 6.45% and pays interest quarterly. Spintab was also in the currency with a HK$180 million three-year trade. It also pays interest quarterly and a final coupon of 0.130%. National Australia Bank was also in Hong Kong dollar. Its HK$160 million trade also matures in three years and is due on the same date as Spintab's note - August 30. Development Bank of Singapore, Credit Lyonnais Finance and HSBC Investment Bank were at the short end in Hong Kong dollar with notes for HK$1 million, HK$8 million and HK$80 million respectively. All mature within six weeks of issue date. Development Bank of Singapore also issued two Singapore dollar trades for $250,000 ($142,174) and $200,000. Both trades are due on August 29 and mature in one month.

Peugeot SA is contemplating a Eu750m-Eu1bn 10 year transaction for launch in September, a debut financing by the parent company of the auto group in the international public bond markets. The mandated banks are expected to be Credit Suisse First Boston and JP Morgan with two other houses, possibly ABN Amro and HSBC. The launch will follow a pan-European roadshow.

Peugeot SA is contemplating a Eu750m-Eu1bn 10 year transaction for launch in September, a debut financing by the parent company of the auto group in the international public bond markets. The mandated banks are expected to be Credit Suisse First Boston and JP Morgan with two other houses, possibly ABN Amro and HSBC. The launch will follow a pan-European roadshow.

* Deutsche Hypothekenbank AG Hannover Berlin Rating: AAA

Portucel-Empresa Produtura de Pasta e Papel, the Portuguese pulp and paper company, is to raise Eu332.5m from a rights issue. The money raised will be used to finance the Eu1.54bn purchase of Soporcel, its Portuguese pulp and paper competitor that was completed earlier this year. In line with stock market regulations, Portucel announced yesterday (Thursday) that it planned to offer new shares to shareholders at Eu1.

Tariq Rafique, ABN Amro's global head of securitisation in London, has resigned from the Dutch bank and is widely tipped to move to Nomura - with headhunters and bankers suggesting he may get a two year contract for as much as £3m a year. Rafique deniedt he has signed any contracts and told EuroWeek: "I enjoyed working at ABN Amro and am leaving primarily because I have always wanted to marry asset securitisation technology with capital."

Tariq Rafique, ABN Amro's global head of securitisation in London, has resigned from the Dutch bank and is widely tipped to move to Nomura - with headhunters and bankers suggesting he may get a two year contract for as much as £3m a year. Rafique deniedt he has signed any contracts and told EuroWeek: "I enjoyed working at ABN Amro and am leaving primarily because I have always wanted to marry asset securitisation technology with capital."

The global dollar corporate bond market continued to tighten this week, as the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates to their lowest levels in seven years and investors looked forward to further monetary easing in the months ahead. Citing weakness in corporate investment levels and profits, as well as slowing global growth, the FOMC cut the federal funds rate from 3.75% to 3.5%, its lowest point since 1994.

After a quiet summer season, the Scandinavian leveraged market picked up this week with the announcement that equity house Gilde Investment Management will buy out Sapa Autoplastics for Skr1.22bn. The new company will be called Plastal Group. Some 65% of the buy-out cost will be funded by senior debt with the balance in the form of equity.