Nomura, the preeminent Asian-based global investment bank, today announced that it has been named as a Primary Dealer for Irish Government bonds.
Nomura is the only Asian bank to be granted this status and will bring the total number of Primary Dealer firms in the Irish Government bond market to 12. Nomura's role as a Primary Dealer will be to continuously make two way markets in Irish Government bonds and to participate in competitive auctions organised by the Irish National Treasury Management Agency.
"We are very proud to be appointed as a Primary Dealer for Irish Government bonds," said Kieran Higgins, Co-Head of Fixed Income for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Nomura. "Nomura's Fixed Income business has been keenly focusing on increasing its market making activities in Europe and internationally, and this development is yet another validation of our strategy."
Brian Healy, Director of Traded Markets, Development, Operations at the Irish Stock Exchange, said: "The addition of Nomura as a Primary Dealer in Irish Government bonds is a significant and welcome development. The involvement of Nomura, a major player in European and global fixed income markets, underscores the strong international interest in the market for Irish Government debt. We look forward to building further on this relationship with Nomura as we continue to expand our trading membership base."
Since the beginning of 2009, Nomura has secured its position as a Primary Dealer for UK, US and Indian Government bonds. It is also a Primary Dealer in Germany, Italy, France, Greece and Austria and will continue to develop its position in the sovereign debt markets.