First movers in focus for CDS as market grinds to new tights
First is the operative word in corporate credit movers this week, with UK transport firm Firstgroup leading European CDS improvers while FirstEnergy Corp heads the worst performers in the US

Europe hits post-covid tights on hard-fought recovery package deal
European credit spreads are hitting their tightest prints since the coronavirus outbreak began, with European Union leaders having agreed a €750 billion recovery package following protracted talks

Former JP Morgan credit correlation head launches $200 million fund
The former head of credit correlation trading at JP Morgan has launched a global credit fund management business with $200 million of assets, according to market sources

Chesapeake auction delayed over convertibles question
A credit event auction to settle Chesapeake Energy Corporation CDS has been postponed for at least two weeks while the Determinations Committee seeks clarity on status of the company's convertible bonds

Chesapeake auction could face delay over convertible conundrum
A credit event auction next week to settle Chesapeake Energy Corporation CDS could be postponed as uncertainty hangs over the status of the company's convertible bonds

Onex keeps up recruitment drive as it hires high yield credit head
Onex Credit has made more additions to its team in New York, adding a head of high yield credit and a portfolio manager in opportunistic credit

Shot in the arm for US credit as vaccine results prompt outperformance
US credit markets have gained a chance to catch up with European improvement this week, after positive results from a coronavirus vaccine test prompted US outperformance, particularly in high yield

Credit Rendezvous: record fiscal stimulus provides pick-me-up
Credit markets had a mini bounce-back in the second quarter as central banks poured cash into the economy. But there is great uncertainty about the effects of a second wave of coronavirus. As part of our quarterly report on credit - the Credit Rendezvous - Creditflux spoke to experts across 12 segments of the credit market

US/Europe gap widens as states roll back reopening plans
Decoupling of US and European performance is the stand-out feature of credit this week, in which fears of a pandemic second wave and further US/China wrangles hold market improvement in check

LP round up: managers keep fundraising hopes high as GSO targets $7.5 billion for mezz offering
Institutional investors allocated $1.6 billion into credit this week, according to documents seen by Creditflux

Chesapeake deliverables point to big pay-out on CDS
An initial list of deliverable obligations to settle CDS referencing Chesapeake Energy Corporation at auction points to a pay-out of over 97 cents to protection buyers - higher than where five-year contracts are priced

Chesapeake CDS auction date set
Dealers have set a date to settle Chesapeake Energy Corp CDS, in what will be the thirteenth credit event auction of 2020

California Res auction brings 99 cent problem for CDS protection sellers
An auction to settle CDS referencing California Resources Corp has settled at just 1.125 cents, meaning a 98.875 cents pay-out to protection buyers

Tabula launches ETF to short US high yield credit
Tabula Investment Management, a fixed income exchange traded fund (ETF) provider, has added a product that offers short position exposure to North American high yield corporate credit

Europe leads opening rally, with Asian boost to autos, banks and commodity traders
A bullish tone in Asia around the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic has carried over into the rest of the credit market at the start of the week, taking European spreads tighter and pointing to a solid opening for the US after its long weekend

Europe outshines US despite caution on inflows and second wave
A week characterised by lower volatility and awash with returning European high yield issuance is ending on a cautious tone, with the US market on holiday and 'second wave' covid concerns bringing a pause to the credit rally

Curves and skews come back into play as CDS volumes swell
The rapid growth of the CDS market during the coronavirus pandemic has been consolidated in the second quarter, with investors putting on trades not seen in such volume since the 2008 financial crisis.

High yield borrowers face pressure over social data
Two major themes of the credit market in 2020 are on a collision course: high yield issuers playing catch-up after a dearth of issuance and the Black Lives Matter movement putting the focus on the S of ESG investing

Calpers plans $80 billion leverage play to boost returns
California Public Employees’ Retirement System has outlined plans to boost returns for its nearly $400 billion portfolio in the long term. But the proposal, dubbed ‘towards a 7% solution’, has come under criticism

Governance has greatest impact on short-term changes in company valuation out of ESG factors, finds MSCI
Governance has more impact than environmental and social factors on company financial fundamentals and stock price in the short term, but ‘E’ and ‘S’ play their part over the long term, according to analysis from MSCI

Fund performance: CLO funds keep up the momentum for second month running
May returns have been led by continued momentum from CLO funds. In the last month, funds that invest in CLO notes in some capacity have made up 90% of our top 10, while 97% of funds listed generated positive returns - an improvement of 15% on last month's figures.

Credit funds at a glance (July 2020)
A round-up of fundraising and people moves

Ucits at a glance: Ucits recover lost ground
The foot has come off the gas for many funds - 57% of funds did not break the 2% return barrier.

Index tranche volumes go into overdrive as CSOs stall
CDS index tranche trading has gathered pace during the coronavirus pandemic, putting the asset class on course for a post-2008 crisis record.

Managers prepare for new habits in post-lockdown world
A new world beckons as lockdown measures gradually loosen; one in which consumer behaviour has changed and credit investing will have to adjust. But it won’t be as easy as compartmentalising investments into ‘covid sectors’ and ‘non-covid sectors’.