Bond / CDS basis in play as heavy market rout extends
The rout of financial markets has resumed at pace on Thursday, with sizeable moves that add to relative value disparities between cash and synthetic credit

US retailers hit hard as inflation and dollar spark big sell-off
Inflation worries and a strengthening US dollar have once again upended the credit market’s fragile confidence, taking spreads on a violent lurch wider with the US underperforming Europe

European markets give up some gains after outperforming US
Credit and stocks have improved on Tuesday, as investors attempted a momentum shift, but Europe is already giving up some of its gains after outperforming the US for a brief spell

Investors hold tight amid Chinese slowdown and Nordic affront to Russia
Financial markets are opening the week on a cautious tone, as Chinese economic data weakens the global growth outlook and new Nato applications intensify the stand-off with Russia

Credit retreats from wides, but worrisome test levels remain in view
Another rocky week for markets is ending with credit finding a firmer tone. But big questions remain unanswered about relative value and the levels some sectors could test

Europe feels Arctic chill while currency and tech woes add to fear
European markets have again taken a bearish turn on Thursday, with Finnish Nato aspirations, the strengthening US dollar, persistent inflation and slumping tech stocks adding to investors’ deepening dismay

Credit and equity retreat from extremes but oil slumps further
Financial markets are mounting a tentative recovery on Tuesday, having been hammered to new bearish extremes at the start of the week

Stalling growth engines leave market in deeper turmoil
Financial markets are starting the week in another heavy slump, with credit hitting new wides as various asset classes take a beating from economic growth fears and the prospect of a recession in Europe

Post-Fed volatility prompts stark reassessment of credit relative value
Central bank policy moves have caught markets off-guard, with volatility ensuing and spreads hitting new wides 

"It’ll take something special to drag my attention away from Depp/Heard, but Jerome Powell could just do it"
It’s not easy letting go of the past, but May heralds the start of something new in credit

"Derivative longs versus cash corporate shorts looks attractive, especially if we see a market sell-off"
Technicals are keeping cash credit spreads tight, but as central banks reduce purchases there will be relative value opportunities

US / European high yield compression trades win as Fed unveils new hiking regime
The remarkable recent outperformance of US credit derivatives index CDX HY has reached a key juncture, with reaction to the Federal Reserve's announcements causing it to trade inside European counterpart iTraxx Crossover

Muzinich targets high income with new flexible credit fund
Muzinich & Co has launched Muzinich Dynamic Credit Income Fund, which it says is “designed for investors seeking outperformance in rising credit markets without taking excessive risks”

Macro drivers set to give lift to CDS tranche trading
Credit index tranches look to be on course for a busy year, with volumes robust so far in 2022, despite key relative value trading themes having not delivered so far

Credit hedge funds (May 2022)
Credit hedge fund returns  

Ucits at a glance: Robus stands tall among Ucits funds
27% of Ucits funds had positive returns in March, a slight improvement from 10% in February

Dispersion begets dispersion in mixed bag of fund returns
Idiosyncratic risks are set to rise in credit, with fund managers becoming occupied with tail risks, and that has been seen in a scattered set of March hedge fund returns

Top macro credit PM will fly solo with fund launch
A new credit investment firm could soon be in the offing, following the departure of Alberto Gallo from Algebris Investments in April, suggest market sources

Phase 6 of uncleared margin rules drives CDS clearing volumes
2022 is shaping up to be a bumper year for CDS clearing activity, not only due to increased trading of the asset class, but a confluence of other factors, such as regulations, product expansion and wider geographical reach

Points up front: "It’s all me, me, me"
A study last month by the University of Marburg found that narcissistic fund managers are up to 34% more likely to deviate from their advertised investment style, and they tend to underperform non-narcissists.

Russia auction prep on pause after last minute scramble
The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee has put on pause its preparation for a credit event auction to settle Russian Federation CDS, amid reports the country has made good on sovereign debt payments right at the wire

Russia looks to avoid default as deliverable list points to 27-cent recovery
The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee has published a preliminary list of bonds it deems deliverable into Russian Federation CDS contracts, even though reports suggest Russia may have avoided default with just one day left on the country's grace period for overdue international bond payments

SEC's CDS proposals could impede market rather than help it: Barclays
New rules proposed by the US Securities & Exchange Commissions to tighten oversight of the CDS market could mean big changes for the market and have the effect of sapping activity, warn Barclays credit strategists in a note published on Thursday

JP Morgan splits global head of institutional structuring role as it promotes three
JP Morgan has rejigged part of its credit structuring business with a set of promotions for officials who have covered SRTs, CLOs and CSOs as part of cross-asset roles