Australia
Asia plays catch-up on CCPs
While European and US regulators blaze a trail in over-the-counter derivatives reform, Asian supervisors have been much more circumspect. Some are now exploring the use of central clearing but many are still wrestling with how best to implement it. Matt…
Australian advisory business faces clampdown on remuneration
Sector faces major shake-up by Australian government’s focus on quality of investor advice
Coming of age
As Australia braces itself for a shift to a fee-for-service regime for financial advisers, low-cost, relatively transparent products such as exchange-traded funds look set to flourish. Wietske Blees reports
Tipping point?
The global financial crisis has demonstrated the Australian credit default swap market is more liquid than its counterparts in the rest of Asia. Nonetheless, Australian investors have failed to take advantage of large arbitrage opportunities and the…
Australia infrastructure changes may reduce role of PPP as inflation payers
Private sector calls on Australian government to underwrite payments for PPP projects
Eurozone sovereign CDS spreads widen amid continuing contagion fears
Widening continues on eurozone CDS spreads as Australian banks feel the pinch from the Greek debt crisis
In transition
Transition management is gaining popularity in Australia, with longer transitions using off-exchange trading platforms becoming increasingly common. But there are plenty of risks associated with such trades. Rachel Alembakis reports
Betting on basis
Large offshore capital raising efforts by Australia’s banks and a relative dearth of activity in the kangaroo bond market has led to a significant widening in the cross-currency basis swap. This imbalance has created a large profit opportunity for fund…
Hedging risks rethink
Sharp moves in foreign exchange currency pairs during the past 18 months have resulted in institutional investors reappraising their currency risks and hedging techniques. Some investors are using new instruments to better match their liquidity profiles…
Australian annuities - from boom to bust
The Australian superannuation system contains over A$1.2 trillion of assets, but the country’s annuity industry has yet to see any tangible inflow from the sector. As baby boomers retire, will this change and if so, does the industry have the risk…
Some CERs “not sexy” enough for investors: carbon industry heavyweight
Certified emissions reduction (CER) credits generated from clean development mechanism (CDM) projects, such as Chinese wind farms, are just “not sexy” enough for investors at the moment and they are looking to other regions like Africa, says Liz Bossley,…
Kupe light crude oil ready to ship
Origin Energy New Zealand has revealed that the Kupe gas project will be making the first shipment of light crude oil from Taranaki port on January 17.
LNG experts confident that Asia will take on Australian supply
PetroChina’s cancellation of its deal with Australia liquefied natural gas developer Woodside Petroleum is not indicative of a reduction in LNG demand from Asia, say experts.
Australia – renewables policy
As government support for renewables grows globally, Andrew Petersen and Eros Artuso of PwC look at Australia’s latest initiative and compare it with other schemes worldwide
Rays of hope
The turbulent conditions that have characterised the past two years have taken their toll on the Australian structured products market. But lessons regarding diversification and capital protection could offer a chink of light to investors. Wietske Blees…
Best in Australia - Citi
The market in Australia has received some shelter from the past year's financial crisis because fewer Lehman Brothers-backed products were distributed there than was the case elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region. That aside, there has been no respite…
