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Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) (AA-/Aa2/AA) has become the final major Australian bank to complete its debut covered bond transaction, pricing a €$1.5 billion (US$1.9 billion) five-year deal on January 4. It was also the first covered bond issued by an Australia big four bank into the European market, and CommBank's Sydney-based group treasurer, Lyn Cobley, tells KangaNews that market was targeted for the wider distribution and larger volume available.

National Australia Bank (NAB) (Aa2) has become the third Australian major bank to price its inaugural covered bond transaction, issuing NOK2 billion (US$339.1 million) as part of a private placement to a small group of Norwegian investors. The issuer reveals the 10-year fixed rate deal was completed in response to reverse enquiry.

The week beginning December 19 saw a slowdown in issuance in Australia and New Zealand as the holiday break approached. However, major banks in both markets - ASB Bank and National Australia Bank - made their debuts into the covered bond market via privately placed transactions.

Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service assigned definitive triple-A ratings to ASB Bank's (Aa3/AA) inaugural NZ$300 million (US$227.6 million) covered bond transaction on December 19. All four major banks in New Zealand have now issued covered bonds, with the latest deal coming in the form of a private placement.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) (AA-/Aa2/AA) priced its second Samurai transaction of 2011 on December 16. The ¥50 billion (US$642 million) five-year deal has a coupon of 1.27 per cent and achieved a margin of 75 basis points over yen swap – which proved favourable for investors, according to the leads.

FirstMac completed a new residential mortgage-backed securities issue on December 20. The transaction achieved its launch volume of A$300 million (US$298.1 million) and is FirstMac's second RMBS of 2011. After a busy November – with four asset-backed deals pricing – the securitisation market has seen a slowdown in December, with just one other deal issued, on December 8 by Liberty Financial.

Mid-year budgetary reviews published by Australian states in December are having limited impact on projected funding requirements for state treasury corporations. The updates from the governments of South Australia and Victoria entail slightly increased borrowing targets for 2011/12, while New South Wales (NSW)'s update has not changed the state's programme for the current year.

The week beginning December 12 experienced an increased amount of public deal flow in both Australia and New Zealand. Most notably, the Australian major banks were active both domestically and in the Samurai market. The securitisation market also saw the launch of the second asset-backed deal of the month.