Credit traders’ kickstand: it’s a tough time to go short
Credit derivative indices are ending the week back at very tight levels, with a re-convergence of spreads, with little appetite to bet against presumed central bank dovishness or the upcoming CDS rolls in September

Large US direct lender eyes expansion into Europe, reports Debtwire
One of the largest investors in the US middle market is planning to expand into Europe, according to Creditflux’s sister publication Debtwire

Credit traders' kickstand: Basis and CDS curves take focus with long wait ahead for central bank direction
With almost a month to wait before the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve hold their next decisive meetings, a bumpier and seemingly directionless road continues in credit markets as investors show little inclination to do anything more adventurous than just hold on tight

Big questions for CDS shorters as Isda protocol countdown begins
With only a month to go until the International Swaps & Derivatives Association rolls out its protocol for narrowly tailored credit events, big net buyers of CDS protection should think hard about both its value and maintaining liquidity, says law firm Kramer Levin

Texas pension to invest up to $225 million in distressed debt
Investment consultant Cliffwater recommends an annual commitment of up to $225 million in distressed debt to Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), according to documents seen by Creditflux

Silicon Valley pension to invest $20 million in private debt
San Jose Federated City Employees Retirement System and Health Care Trust is set to make commitments of $20 million in private debt, as part of its fiscal year 2019-2020 pacing plan, according to documents seen by Creditflux  

Los Angeles pension appoints four managers for private credit mandate
Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System (Lacers) has awarded four contracts for a $670 million private credit mandate search, according to minutes from the July investment committee meeting.  

US pension scheme eyes 50 South Capital fund of funds
50 South Capital Backed Credit Fund II, a fund-of funds vehicle, is set to invest in four loan funds in small and medium size companies, according to documents seen by Creditflux  

Carval fashions 'flexible' global multi-strategy credit hedge fund
The open-ended fund will focus on non-control strategies including corporate securities, liquidations, loan portfolios and structured credit 

Credit traders' kickstand: volatility puts paid to primary, but pays out for relative value buyers
The persistence of credit market choppiness has brought into focus CDS/bond basis plays, options positioning, high yield dispersion and peripheral European weakness - but mainly the volatility rash has put a block on borrowers' primary market aspirations

Boston-based pension backs Searchlight distressed fund
Cambridge Retirement System, the $1.27 billion pension fund, has committed $150 million to Searchlight Capital Partners III during the second semester of 2019, according to documents seen by Creditflux.  

Credit funds contribute to Hamilton Lane’s AUM growth
Hamilton Lane has announced its assets under management and advisement has hit $473 billion as of June. This comes shortly after it closed a credit fund and begun marketing another one

Apollo fee earnings rise 9% in Q2 as structured credit boosts portfolio
Apollo Global Management’s credit portfolio increased 4% quarter-over-quarter to $201 billion, driven by growth in affiliated life insurance firm Athene, as well as corporate credit and structured credit

Flat curves and decompression make waves below the surface
Hopes of using the summer slowdown to get to the beach may be tempered for credit relative value traders, where opportunities abound behind the uninspiring benchmark numbers of the slow market grind.

Ares credit business grows 4.4%, driven by US direct lending
US and European direct lending, alternative credit and syndicated loan funds dove growth for Ares Management Corporation in the second quarter, the firm said

Net short language could force lenders to sell at a loss
Signs are growing that ‘net short’ provisions in bonds and loans are getting closer to hitting CDS investors, with two instances in recent weeks of the language expanding both in geographical and functional remit.

Back to basis (and skew) as relative value plays catch-up
Basis trades between bonds and CDS failed to gain traction during July as synthetic markets held ground or improved their position versus cash, but this is beginning to change, say market participants.

Ucits at a glance: Amundi and Loomis Sayles funds register big gains in H1

Carlyle switches to corp structure as credit portfolio grows 31%
Carlyle Group is set to become a full C corporation, moving away from its publicly traded partnership structure, amid global credit portfolio growing 31% year-on-year, according to the investment firm’s 2019 Q2 results  

Hamilton Lane holds $760 million final close for private credit fund
Hamilton Lane has held a $760 million final close for its latest global private credit fund, collecting slightly less capital than the manager’s predecessor fund. 

Credit plays a big part as KKR increases AUM by $6.5 billion
KKR grew its assets under management by 8% over the second quarter, according to the firm’s earnings call, which took place on Thursday.

Goldman Sachs creates sustainable finance group
Goldman Sachs has launched a sustainable finance group, to deliver sustainable growth solutions to the bank’s clients, according to documents seen by Creditflux.  

Credit traders' kickstand: tighter and tighter we go, as outlook gets 'worse and worse'
It’s a strange world, where the president of the European Central Bank can say the economic outlook is “getting worse and worse” as credit markets surge into new territories of tightness

Utah fund set to invest $45 million across Beach Point and Crestline funds
The Utah School & Institutional Trust Fund Office is set to make commitments to credit funds managed by Beach Point Capital Management and Crestline Investors

M&G launches ESG bond fund
M&G Investments has launched an emerging markets corporate bond fund, with an emphasis on environmental, social and governance characteristics