Australian banks are queuing up to raise funds in Europe and in the U.S. under a government guarantee programme aimed at helping them raise capital overseas amid the global financial crisis.
However, analysts warn local banks are likely to face higher funding costs than initially anticipated because of an oversupply of sovereign-guaranteed bonds. They also say investor appetite is softening in the face of so much issuance.
In the past month, a rash of European and U.S. borrowers have been raising bonds to take advantage of similar sovereign guarantees.
National Australia Bank is also in discussion with European investors earlier about a five-year euro bond. The issue is lead managed by Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch, according to market sources.
Other Australian banks, including Westpac Banking Corp , Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Macquarie Bank , and Suncorp-Metway are also looking to raise guaranteed bonds, other market sources said.
ANZ and NAB would be the first institutions to use the Australian guarantee.
Reporting by Cecile Lefort) Keywords: ANZ/BONDS
(cecile.lefort@reuters.com; +612-9373-1234; Reuters Messaging: cecile.lefort.reuters.com@reuters.net)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
MMMM

More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index