KPMG report points to slowing bounce back

Early activity in the first half of 2021 was demonstrative of positive business sentiment, with companies looking to execute on their investment strategies resulting in higher levels of market activity.

KPMG’s latest Debt Market Update report says Australia’s economic recovery was well underway in H1 2021 with signs of growth proving to be stronger than previously expected.

The Australian economy was showing positive signs of recovery, supported by strong economic tailwinds over the beginning of the 2021 year.

The continued rollout of the vaccination program and State Governments’ responding swiftly and assertively to contain any detected COVID-19 cases had allowed economic activity to broaden.

However, given the breadth and length of the current lockdowns it is expected that Australia’s economic recovery will be interrupted over the short and medium term delaying the expected bounce back.

A depth of liquidity remains in the Australian market and financiers’ appetite for new opportunities is increasing as a pathway to economic recovery becomes clearer and bank provisions are wound back.

There is still a degree of caution around credit and structure, however borrowers are also being supported by non-bank lenders where appetite can be broader than the credit spectrum of traditional regulated bank financiers, unlocking a breadth of creative funding options.