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ANZ’s monthly survey of credit sentiment among Australian investors indicates that despite widespread belief that credit spreads will continue to widen for up to a year, a significant proportion of investors regard current market conditions as a potential buying opportunity.

German federal agency for agriculture, Rentenbank (AAA/Aaa/AAA) has finalised plans for its forthcoming Australian roadshow. And, for the first time ever, the agency will add meetings with New Zealand-based investors to its itinerary.

Although fears of a global banking system crisis are overstated concentration of risk is likely to require more frequent central bank interventions than in the past, a report from Moody’s Investor Services says.

International Finance Corporation (IFC) (AAA/Aaa) priced its first Kauri bond on August 10, a NZ$300 million (US$227 million) five-year deal increased to NZ$500 million on August 21.

Speculation that troubled US mortgage lender Countrywide (CFC) may be approaching bankruptcy may be overstated, analysts say, with the firm likely to either ride out its short-term funding crisis or be bought out before reaching insolvency.

The fate of another financial institution hit hard by sub-prime mortgage woes, Dutch investment bank NIBC (A-/A3), looks to have been secured following its takeover by Iceland’s Kaupthing Bank (Aa3/A).

Market participants agree that increased relative value opportunities are a likely beneficial result of last week's credit correction, centred on US financial institutions' exposure to sub-prime debt and LBO finance.

Continuing its reputation for innovation in the international capital markets, on July 27 KfW Bankengruppe (KfW) became the first non-Asian international issuer to complete a Thai baht bond in the local capital market in Thailand.

Generally strong results announcements from a series of US banks have been universally impacted by increased provisions for retail bad debt, including ongoing concern regarding the sub-prime mortgage sector.

On July 24 the European Investment Bank (EIB) (AAA/Aaa/AAA) priced its inaugural NZ$400 million (US$323 million) five-year Kauri bond. This is the largest fixed rate note transaction in the Kauri bond market.

On Friday July 20 the World Bank (AAA/Aaa) priced its debut NZ$350 million (US$278 million) seven-year global Kauri bond.

Two supranationals have announced intentions to issue Kauri bonds and others are looking closely at the market as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) announced an extension of its list of repo-eligible securities.