Credit spread improvement is calm before the storm, warn strategists
European and US credit markets have begun 2019 with a more buoyant tone than they ended 2018, but strategists warn that bearish factors still outweigh and suggest the overall direction of spreads this year is likely to be wider

Robeco looks to align macro fixed income with credit as it makes senior hire
Robeco has hired Jamie Stuttard as co-head of the global fixed income macro team and fixed income strategist  

Muzinich poaches Neuberger Berman MD for top fund distribution role
Muzinich has hired a global head of distribution, according to an announcement today, picking up the role previously held by Joshua Hughes, who left for CIFC Asset Management in May

Blackstone builds on multi-asset approach with fifth fund
The new vehicle will invest directly into Blackstone deals across its alternatives platform

Ex-Citi CDO trading chief joins Jefferies as head of European fixed income
Jefferies has appointed a former Citi European credit and pre-crisis CDO trading head to lead its European fixed income business

Portfolio managers continue to be pessimistic on credit outlook, survey finds
A survey by the International Association of Credit Portfolio Managers states that 56% respondents believe average corporate default rates will increase over the next 12 months 

San Francisco pension fund to deploy up to $4.5 billion in private debt
The City and County of San Francisco Employee’s Retirement System has revealed details of its new private debt pacing plan - which will see it deploy up to $4.5 billion and partner with up to 25 private debt managers over the next six years

BlackRock's AUM increases 22% in a year as ETFs contribute to growth
BlackRock’s assets under management have surpassed $6.2 trillion following “a record year” for the firm in 2017, company officials said in a recent earnings call

Trailblazing ethical investment fund from Rathbones passes £1 billion
Well before ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing became a buzzword, a Rathbones-managed fund was investing in ethical companies. Now that vehicle – Rathbone Ethical Bond fund – has passed £1.03 billion

Going short IG against the ECB will eventually pay off
Chenavari’s Demian Brasil takes our credit quiz

BNY to merge three of its asset managers
BNY Mellon Investment Management plans to merge three of its managers into one entity that will oversee $560 billion in assets

CLO-savvy insurance company hires two for top credit investment roles
An insurance company, which has made a name for itself in supporting CLO managers with risk retention capital, has made a pair of big hires to its credit investment business

Hartford-based Newfleet adds head of business development to its team
Newfleet Asset Management has brought in William Irvine as a senior managing director and head of its institutional business development platform

Leading fund: Lupus Alpha CLO Opportunity Notes I
Single-B CLO trades boost Lupus Alpha asset Management