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* Schieneninfrastukturfinanzierungs-Gesellschaft mbh (Schig) Guarantor: Republic of Austria

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Asset backed securities: * Securitised Australian Mortgage Trust 1997-2

THE volatility in emerging equity markets this week claimed one new issue victim when Bonton, the Czech media company, decided to delay its initial public offering at the last minute. The offering of shares in the company, which was set up seven years by two local jazz musicians, is the first international IPO from the Czech Republic.

Asset backed securities: * HYPO-G

FRENCH insurance company AXA-UAP has mandated Merrill Lynch as global co-ordinator to lead a multi-currency subordinated step-up perpetual bond -- a debut in the international bond markets by the French insurance group. The bond will be non-callable for 10 years. If the call option is not exercised then the coupon will step up by 150bp. Standard & Poor's has provisionally awarded the deal an A- rating.

THE Kingdom of Belgium this week completed roadshows for its planned issuance of linear bonds (OLOs) denominated in Deutschmarks and French francs. The bonds, for which JP Morgan is global coordinator, will become fungible with a line of Belgian franc-denominated OLOs which were auctioned this week as soon as all three currencies convert to the euro.

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BRAZIL BECAME the focus of world market attention yesterday (Thursday) as its central bank rushed to defend its currency from speculators and to allay investor fears that the country would be the latest emerging market economy to suffer an exchange rate crisis. The central bank was forced to spend as much as $4.77bn on Tuesday, in net terms, to defend its currency, about $200m on Wednesday and it intervened in the market four times to spend about $1bn on Thursday. This makes a sharp dent in its previous level of $61bn of foreign exchange reserves.

THE EQUITY operations of BZW and NatWest Markets could be under new ownership within the next few days, amid signs that their clearing bank parents are nearing agreement on selling the respective units. Despite the volatility in world equity markets over the last few days, executives at both firms are expecting announcements on their future imminently.

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