CNS Welcomes Go Markets to San Diego Datacenter

SAN DIEGO, CA, Jul 25 (MARKET WIRE) —
Commercial Network Services is pleased to announce the arrival of
Australia’s leading FOREX broker to the CNS San Diego datacenter. Go
Markets has added a new server in the CNS San Diego datacenter to their
global MT4 network. The new server will result in better performance for
traders all over North America and most especially those hosted on a
Trader’s VPS in the CNS-SDCA datacenter, who will enjoy < 1ms latency to
the new server from their MT4 client terminals. The new server is the
latest addition to the growing Go Markets global presence, which now
includes servers in Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and San Diego.

Commercial Network Services is the leading provider of VPS services
designed especially for FOREX traders and operates out of datacenters in
San Diego, New York City and London.

Contact:
Commercial Network Services
www.CommercialNetworkServices.com

Go Markets
www.gomarketsaus.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

QTC issues A$4.4 bln in 2011 & 2012 bond exchange

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click on [AU/CRD] and then double click on the ID number)

SYDNEY, July 23 (Reuters) – Queensland Treasury Corp, the
state’s funding arm, has issued a total of A$4.4 billion ($3.93
billion) in new 2011 and 2012 bonds in exchange for
government-guaranteed bonds, sole lead UBS said on Friday.

The borrower issued A$2.7 billion in June 2011 bonds with a
yield 14 basis points above the QTC 2011 Australia-guaranteed
line and A$1.7 billion in April 2012 bonds with a yield 15 bps
above the QTC’s 2012 Australia-guaranteed bonds.

(Reporting by Cecile Lefort)

Australia’s TASCORP prices A$750 mln 2014 notes

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click on [AU/CRD] and then double click on the ID number)

SYDNEY, July 15 (Reuters) – Tasmanian Public Finance
Corporation (TASCORP) has priced A$750 million ($663 million)
in a new 2014 note issue, the joint lead managers said on
Thursday. The 5.5 percent June 23, 2014 issue, initially
announced with a maximum size of A$500 million, will yield 5.47
percent or 77.75 basis points over the government bond due
2014.

The margin is the middle of preliminary pricing indications
of 75.75bp to 80.75bp over June 2014 Australian government
bond,

Commonwealth Bank of Australia and UBS jointly led the
issue.

The notes settle on July 21 and were issued at a reoffer
price of 100.521 including accrued interests of 0.421.

TASCORP is the state’s financing arm and is rated AA-plus
by S&P and Aaa by Moodys’s.
(Reporting by Cecile Lefort; editing by Balazs Koranyi)

Germany’s KfW prices A$850 million bond increase

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click on [AU/CRD] and then double click on the ID number)

SYDNEY, July 15 (Reuters) – German state development bank
KfW [KFW.UL] has priced a A$850 million ($751.5 million)
December 2019 bond increase at 124.75 basis points over
government bond, a joint lead said on Thursday.

The margin is equivalent to 78 basis points over quarterly
swap, a source who has seen the terms said.

The issue was initially launched with a minimum size of
A$250 million.

TD Securities and UBS Investment Bank jointly led the
increase.

KfW is rated Aaa/AAA/AAA and is guaranteed by the Federal
Republic of Germany.

ANZ prices A$1.25 bln 3-year bond at 90bp/swap

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click on [AU/CRD] and then double click on the ID number)

SYDNEY, July 13 (Reuters) – Australia & New Zealand Banking
Group (ANZ.AX) (ANZ), the nation’s fourth largest lender, has
priced a A$1.25 billion ($1.1 billion) three-year bond issue at
90 basis points over swap and BBSW, it said on Tuesday.

The offer, also led by ANZ, consisted of A$250 million in
fixed rate notes and A$1 billion in floating rate notes.

ANZ is rated AA by S&P and Aa1 by Moody’s.
(Reporting by Cecile Lefort; Editing by Balazs Koranyi)

ANZ National sells NZ$350 mln five-year bond

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click on [AU/CRD] and then double click on the ID number)

SYDNEY, July 9 (Reuters) – ANZ National Bank Ltd (ANZ.AX),
New Zealand’s largest lender, has sold a NZ$350 million ($248
million) five-year bond issue at 165 basis points over swap, it
said on Friday.

Proceeds will be used for fund general purposes, it said.

Deal details are as follows:

Issuer: ANZ National Bank Ltd

Facility: Domestic fixed rate notes

Law: New Zealand

Amount issued: NZ$350 million

Maturity: July 13, 2015

Set date: July 13

Coupon: 6.51%

Yield: 6.51%

Spread: +165bp/swap

Issue price 100

Lead(s): ANZ

Issuer ratings: AA (S&P), Aa2 (Moody’s), AA- (Fitch)
(Reporting by Cecile Lefort; editing by Balazs Koranyi)

Australia’s CHAMP says to buy ATF Services

July 1 (Reuters) – Australia’s CHAMP Private Equity has agreed to buy temporary fencing provider ATF Services from Sydney-based Quadrant Private Equity, the company said on Thursday.

CHAMP, which earlier announced it had sold university programme provider Study Group, did not disclose financial terms.

Sydney-based Quadrant Private Equity had earlier been looking to float ATF Services. (Reporting by Michael Smith)

Australia’s CHAMP says to buy ATF Services

July 1 (Reuters) – Australia’s CHAMP Private Equity has agreed to buy temporary fencing provider ATF Services from Sydney-based Quadrant Private Equity, the company said on Thursday.

CHAMP, which earlier announced it had sold university programme provider Study Group, did not disclose financial terms.

Sydney-based Quadrant Private Equity had earlier been looking to float ATF Services. (Reporting by Michael Smith)

UPDATE 1-Westpac prices 5-year A$ domestic issue

(For the latest Australia and New Zealand bond news, double click on [AU/CRD] and then double click on the ID number)

Financials

(Adds pricing)

SYDNEY June 29 (Reuters) – Westpac Banking Corporation raised A$800 million on Tuesday, pricing the floating rate part of the five-year domestic issue at 135 basis points above swap and BBSW.

It split the offering into a $500 million floating rate issue while the remaining A$300 was a fixed-rate offer. The coupon on the fixed rate tranche was 6.5 percent, semi-annual, with the issue price at 99.287, giving a yield of 6.67 percent.

Westpac was sole lead manager of the senior July 2015 domestic issue, which it expects will be rated AA by Standard & Poor’s and Aa1 by Moody’s. (Reporting by Wayne Cole and Anirban Nag; Editing by Ed Davies)

Soccer-World-Police fire teargas at Durban World Cup workers

South Africa, June 14 (Reuters) – South African police fired teargas and rubber bullets late on Sunday to disperse hundreds of stadium workers protesting over wages in the coastal city of Durban, Reuters witnesses said.

Riot police armed with shotguns and riot shields chased the workers, who were deployed as stewards in the ground, out of the stadium where Germany had earlier beaten Australia 4-0 in their opening World Cup game.

At least one woman was injured.

“We were mounting a peaceful protest because they were not paying us what we expected and we were surprised that the police started charging at us. They fired teargas at us,” said one of the workers, Sydney Nzoli. (Reporting by David Clarke and Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Triathlete Bennett to switch allegiances to US, TRI

SYDNEY (AP) Veteran Australian triathlete Greg Bennett has switched his allegiances to the United States so he can be part of his American wife’s 2012 Olympic campaign. Triathlon Australia said Monday it has granted a request by the 38-year-old Bennett to be released from representing Australia.

Bennett has dual citizenship and a long family history in the United States, marrying U.S. triathlete Laura Bennett (formerly Reback) in 2004. He has based the majority of his racing career out of the U.S. since the 2000 Olympics.

There was no indication whether Bennett planned to attempt to qualify for the U.S. in 2012. Bennett has competed in more than 80 World Cup events, with 26 podium finishes for six wins and two world series titles.

Butt dismisses allegations of match-fixing, CRI

ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has dismissed allegations of match-fixing against national team players. Butt told reporters in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday that if any of his subordinates raises the issue of match-fixing, “he is talking nonsense.

” In a leaked video recording of an inquiry committee hearing, Pakistan team coaches raised suspicions about the performance of wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal during the winless tour of Australia earlier this year. Then-coach Intikhab Alam said that he was flabbergasted after Akmal missed a run out of Shane Watson in the Sydney test and later heard suggestions of match-fixing.

Report: Akmal wants coaches to apologize, CRI

ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan news reports say wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal wants an unconditional apology from his former coaches for accusing him of match-fixing during this year’s winless tour of Australia. Akmal was quoted by leading Urdu-language daily Jang on Sunday as saying both Intikhab Alam and Aqib Javed should apologize to him unconditionally, otherwise he will take court action against them.

Both Alam and Javed raised suspicions of match fixing in a leaked video of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s inquiry committee. Alam had said he was flabbergasted after Akmal missed a run out of Shane Watson during the Sydney test and later heard stories of match fixing.

Akmal was talking to the newspaper before leaving for commitments in England.

Akmal threatens to sue coaches over match-fixing allegations

Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has threatened to sue the team’s former coaches Intikhab Alam and Aaquib Javed if they don’t apologise for suggesting that he was involved in match-fixing during the disastrous tour of Australia.

Akmal said he wanted a public apology from Intikhab and Aaqib for raising suspicions about his performance on the tour earlier this year.

“I want an apology from them or else they should substantiate their claims that I deliberately left a run-out in the Sydney test. They must come up with evidence that I am linked with bookmakers,” Kamran said.

The wicketkeeper-batsman made it clear that he was fed up trying to explain that he was not involved in match-fixing.

“I go out everyday and they are people passing comments on me. My family is deeply disturbed with these fresh allegations,” he said.

Intikhab and Aaqib told a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry committee that they had their suspicions about the performances of Kamran and all-rounder Rana Naved in Australia.

They specifically expressed suspicions about the performance of Kamran in the second Test in the lost Sydney during which the keeper dropped four catches and missed an easy run-out.

The video recordings of the former coaches caused an uproar and reignited the match-fixing issue and the ICC also stated it was examining Pakistan’s dismal tour of Australia this year when they were whitewashed in the Test and one-day series.

Though PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has made it clear that the inquiry into the Australian tour is a closed chapter and they found no evidence of match-fixing, Kamran who left on Saturday for a film shoot in London said he wanted an apology.

“If they don’t apologise or don’t substantiate their allegations I will go to court. I wanted to go to court earlier also against a media outlet but the PCB persuaded me against do so,” he said.

“But this time since both Intikhab and Aaqib are PCB employees, when I return I will talk to the board Chairman about my intentions,” he added.

Kamran said that he was surprised at the statements of both the former coaches.

“They remained coaches since last year and if they had suspicions about my performance in Sydney why did they pick me for the one-day series that followed,” he stated.

Lewis Hamilton charged for bad driving

Sydney, May 23 (DPA) Police charged British Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton for ‘over-exuberant’ driving near the Melbourne circuit where the Australian Grand Prix was held in March, media reports said Sunday.

The 2008 world champion was charged with ‘intentionally losing control of a vehicle’ when he did burnouts and fishtails in a borrowed Mercedes on a public road.

‘What I did was silly and I want to apologise for it,’ the 25-year-old said at the time.

In 2007, Hamilton had his licence suspended for a month after being caught speeding on a motorway in France.

A court date was set for Aug 24 in Melbourne, but it is not known whether Hamilton is obliged to be present.

A court appearance in Australia would clash with preparations for the Belgian Grand Prix Aug 29.

‘Unfazed’ Akmal plans to prove match-fixing allegations wrong

Sydney, May 21 (ANI): Outrightly rejecting charges of match fixing being labelled against him, Pakistan wicket keeper Kamran Akmal has said that he has always given his best while playing for the country.

“I have always worked hard for Pakistan and will play for the country. No one has the right to disgrace my nation. I feel bad for my parents, who watch the news like everyone else,” Akmal told ESPN-Star Sports.

“I have told the Pakistan Cricket Board whatever I had to and I am sure that the board will look into it,” he added.

Akmal, who has been accused of match fixing by former team officials, including coach Intikhab Alam, said he wants to prove all allegations being labelled against him wrong through his performance during this winter’s tour of Australia.

Akmal said he has found support in incumbent coach Waqar Younis, who has clarified that he does not share his predecessor Alam’s view regarding Akmal’s involvement in match fixing.

“If you don”t have any proof you should just keep quiet. I won”t have a problem selecting Kamran, I think he was one of our better performers in the World Twenty20. There are some very ugly agendas and people trying to benefit here,” The Age quoted Waqar, as saying.

It may be noted that Alam, during a hearing of the inquiry commission, which was set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board to probe the winless tour Down Under, had raised questions over Akmal’s intentions.

“Kamran is a matchwinner but every time we came close to a victory, he played a bad shot and got out. I was flabbergasted when Kamran missed the run-out. I have serious doubts about him. I have heard stories about match-fixing,” Alam was heard saying in a video of the hearing, which was leaked to the media earlier this week. (ANI)

Parents of Indian-appearance toddler unaware of his absence for 6 hours

London, May 19 (ANI): The callous parents of the three-year old boy who was found wandering on Sydney’s streets in a visibly distressed state, failed to register his absence for a full six hours.

The poor kid who was too young to even tell the police his name, had to go from street to street with child welfare workers in the hope of identifying his house.

Police assiduously searched for his home the entire day canvassing schools, pre-schools and childcare centres in the vicinity, but to no avail.

They drove around for 2½ hours before the toddler was able to point out his house, The Telegraph reports.

It has emerged that the parents of the boy both thought their son was with the other, and were unaware that their misconception could have cost them their son’s life. (ANI)

Miranda Kerr feels sorry for Aussie banker caught ogling at her naked pics

Melbourne, May 19 (ANI): The last time Victoria’s Secret angel Miranda Kerr shot for a racy GQ photoshoot, a misfortunate Australian banker almost lost his job. Now, the model has posed for yet another racy shoot for GQ magazine’s June issue.

The Macquarie Banker, David Kiely, was caught on live TV looking at naked pics of Miranda Kerr. Images of Kiely gazing at Miranda were broadcast around the world after he was inadvertently filmed during an interview on Channel 7 news at Macquarie Bank in Sydney.

“It was a big deal,” The Herald Sun quoted Miranda as telling GQ. “I wasn’t offended. I just felt sorry for the poor guy.

“I wonder if he’ll get into trouble if we send him this cover.”

And she said that this time she hoped Kiely would not be caught out.

“We should send him a signed cover!” she said.

“He can read the magazine at home instead of at work on the Internet.”

Miranda told the Herald Sun”s Confidential: “I am told there is a petition to save his job and of course I would sign it.”

Commenting on the ideal man she would want, Miranda said, “Personally, I believe that women need to be stimulated mentally by the man.

“t”s not necessarily about his looks.

“It’s more about being stimulated mentally, like when a man is funny or he is witty or charming, I think that’s attractive. It’s all about personality, really,” she added. (ANI)

Leaked tape reveals match-fixing allegations made by Pak coaches against Akmal

Lahore, May 19 (ANI): Days after the Pakistan Cricket Board’s inquiry commission’s report over the national team’s disastrous Australia tour was leaked to the media, video footage of a hearing of the commission, which shows former team coaches Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed suspecting wicket keeper Kamran Akmal of being involved in match-fixing, has emerged.

The video, which is said to have been deliberately leaked by some of PCB officials, shows Alam and Javed alleging that they suspected that Akmal’s shoddy performance throughout the tour was intentional, The Daily Times reports.

Kamran had dropped four catches in the Sydney Test, including three off middle order batsman Mike Hussey, after which he went on to make a century to help his team register a remarkable win in the Test match, in which the visitors were in commanding position right from the first innings.

“I have reservations over the way he missed the run out. When I saw it I couldn’t believe it. How he could miss such a big run out? I can’t say 100 percent that there is match-fixing, but I have my strong suspicions,” the video shows Javed, as saying.

“I know all about it because I was a victim of it. In 1998, I presented evidence against players but the judge who was hearing the inquiry ended the matter,” he added.

“I was flabbergasted when Kamran missed the run out. I have serious doubts about him. I have heard stories about match-fixing,” said Alam.

The video has stirred a fresh controversy in Pakistan cricket, which already has been facing myriad troubles over the past few years. (ANI)

Sydney traffic bad and getting worse: survey

A survey of small businesses has found more than 80 per cent believe congestion in Sydney has got worse in the last year.

Motoring organisation NRMA surveyed 382 businesses that are members of its roadside assistance service.

It found that more than a third of respondents have changed their business habits as a result of congestion.

75 per cent said their journey to work was longer that a year ago, while 42 per cent have incurred costs as high as $10,000 because of congestion.

NRMA President Wendy Machin says business owners are frustrated with the New South Wales Government for not doing more to fix the problem.

She says some businesses have been forced to move outside the CBD.

“That’s a real indictment on a major city like Sydney to think that we’re forcing people out of the place where they want to do business because the traffic is simply too bad for them to do business there,” she said.

The New South Wales Business Chamber’s Paul Ritchie says incentives are needed so people travel at different times.

“According to the RTA, 20 per cent of peak travel is related to parents taking their children to school,” he said.

“So how can we create some incentives in terms of different starting times for schools?”

The New South Wales Transport Minister David Campbell says the number of vehicles on some Sydney’s roads has risen, but travel times have not increased significantly.

“Traffic on Sydney’s major roads has increased by 46 per cent over the past 18 years but travel times on Sydney’s most important roads has remained steady,” he said.

“[That's] through a mix of large infrastructure projects and smaller initiatives, such as the pinch point program, and improving public transport.”