Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

Australian Bank Regulator Keeps Tighter Timetable for Liquidity

Australia’s banking watchdog will stick with its timetable to implement new liquidity rules and won’t widen the range of permissible assets, declining to follow global peers who have softened their stance.

Australian Banks State Bond Holdings at Record as Foreigners Cut

Australia’s banks boosted holdings of the nation’s state government bonds to a record in the fourth quarter as lenders prepare to meet new regulations aimed at making them more resilient.

RBA’s Glenn Stevens Reappointed as Governor for Further 3 Years

Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan extended the term of Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens as the government seeks stability five months before an election.

New South Wales Sells Record A$2.5 Billion Floating Notes

New South Wales raised A$2.5 billion ($2.6 billion) in the biggest-ever sale of floating-rate notes by an Australian state, tapping demand from banks seeking to increase their holdings of liquid assets.

Canada Bank Bonds, China Web, Ukraine Bank: Compliance

Canadian banks issued a record amount of domestic debt this year as they rushed to get ahead of new rules that will make issuing subordinated bonds costlier as of next month.

Goldman Pay-to-Play, Libor Probe, U.A.E. Bank: Compliance

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. will pay $14.4 million to resolve regulatory claims that a former banker made improper campaign contributions to the treasurer of Massachusetts while seeking underwriting business.

U.K. Client-Money, JPMorgan Probe, Sukuk: Compliance

U.K. regulators plan to improve how banks, brokerages and other companies protect clients’ funds, particularly when the investment firm fails.

Australian Regulator Amends Standards to Allow Covered Bonds

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority said it amended standards to allow local banks to issue covered bonds, after parliament passed legislation last week authorizing sales of the asset-backed securities.

Gillard Urged to Copy Bernanke as Australia’s Lenders Squeezed: Mortgages

Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard may be forced to follow U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke by increasing mortgage purchases as house prices slump and the nation’s biggest banks extend their grip on the home-loan market.

Kangaroo Sales Evaporate as Regulator Rejects World Bank: Australia Credit

Sales of bonds by top-rated overseas borrowers in Australia have evaporated following a record start to 2011 after the nation’s banking regulator ruled they don’t qualify under new international capital rules.

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Gold Bears Pull $20.8 Billion as BlackRock Says Buy: Commodities

Japan Stocks Rise, Bonds Fall as G-7 Tolerates Yen; Gold Drops

Singh’s Resignation Sought by India Opposition After Firings

Sharif Set to Be Pakistan Premier Again as Economy Stalls

Carson Block Says He’s Shorting Standard Chartered Debt