While the Asia-Pacific region's growth story over the past few decades has been powered by Japan and then China, at least as far as banking is concerned, when these two countries are removed from The Banker 's Asia-Pacific rankings, it is Australia's banks that come to the fore. 

SABMiller's need to finance its $12.3bn takeover of Foster's saw it issue a $7bn multi-tranche Yankee. The result defied even the most optimistic of expectations, with high demand seeing the brewer come close to refinancing its bridging loan of $8bn in one fell swoop.

Dislocation and falling equity markets are breathing life into the Australian corporate bond market, while a falling cash rate and government-led initiatives are also resuscitating the once lifeless government bond market. Writer Kate Hage .

A new law in Australia to make it easier to change banks will disadvantage the main players and encourage switching for switching’s sake, writes Michael Imeson .

It is a given that larger banks have scale in their favour but Australia’s smaller banks are playing on customer service in a bid to win business, writes Virginia Marsh .

After pursuing a strategy of investing in less-developed Asian markets, ANZ is set to enjoy the fruits of its labours as these markets grow. Virginia Marsh reports.

New laws to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in Australia will place a big burden on banks and taxpayers as well as compromise personal privacy, warns Michael Imeson .

“Phishing” attacks and improvements in ID fraud prevention were the two key topics discussed at The Banker’s Identity Fraud Round Table in London on 5 December, chaired by Contributing Editor Michael Imeson.