US and European basis trades in play as bonds lag CDS rally
A recent outperformance of CDS indices versus cash bonds has opened up basis trade opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, say credit strategists

CDX IG and iTraxx back to level pegging as oil and trade weigh heaviest
Credit markets, along with stocks, enter the week on a flattish tone with focus once again on the next developments between the US and China over trade tariffs. This follows European credit faring better than the US last week as the mood strengthened around Italian and UK risks, say strategists

GSO generates $4.5 billion capital for energy-focused credit fund
GSO Capital Partners has closed its second energy-focused credit fund with $4.5 billion of capital commitments, the firm has announced. Creditflux understands that the fund originally targeted a $5 billion final close

US pension replaces Cliffwater with Meketa
Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds has selected Meketa as a consultant to oversee its opportunistic investments, which consists of direct lending and opportunistic credit investments, along with investments in hedge funds and real assets.  

Loomis Sayles puts together Asia bond fund
Loomis Sayles has added to its credit offering with the launch of its new Asia Bond Plus strategy

Wells Fargo names CEO and head of its asset management arm
Wells Fargo has promoted Nico Marais to chief executive officer and head of Wells Fargo Asset Management, effective immediately.

Nikko AM garners €144 million for TLAC bond fund
The global total loss-absorbing capacity (TLAC) bond fund will “provide active investors the opportunity to earn a strong premium”

Trump tariffs and oil slip dent Europe vs US credit decompression trades
Underperformance of US credit derivative indices at the end of last week has created a trading entry point for those still convinced that Europe has more problems. But bearish factors continue to coalesce on both sides of the Atlantic

Credit traders' kickstand: nervous equilibrium gives way to weakness as earnings and tariffs weigh
Healthy fund inflows, European and US holidays, and a thinning primary market helped sustain credit spreads this week, but a weaker turn today shows this is a fragile equilibrium and company earnings misses are starting to be punished more severely

Credit traders' kickstand: grave times for UK banks and corps as May goes away
UK banks have been among the main underperformers in credit this week, with market sources noting that today’s notice of Prime Minister Theresa May’s intention to resign on 7 June increases the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit. And UK 'zombie' companies appear to be forming a herd

Details emerge of Natixis's new US leadership structure
Kevin Alexander, who departed Natixis, has not been directly replaced 

Investcorp adds fund placement business as it brings Mercury buyout to the boil
The transaction for the alternatives placement agent will help “serve investors worldwide with an array of attractive opportunities in alternative investments”, says Investcorp

Ares hires Natixis deputy CEO for the Americas to credit investing role
Ares Management has poached the Americas deputy chief executive officer from Natixis's investment banking business

Credit traders' kickstand: widening catalysts gather force with focus on financials
Credit markets are once again ending the week on a negative tone, having regained some posture over previous sessions following last week’s tariff-driven sell-off. Credit index spreads appear inclined to trade within a range, but potential catalysts for that range to shift wider outweigh any obvious reasons to return to the tight prints of last month

New investments drive Canada Pension Plan’s credit returns to 8.7%
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)’s credit portfolio has delivered good returns during the 2019 fiscal year, despite the market volatility, according to the institution’s annual financial report  

Connecticut pension eyes investment in Clearlake fund
The State of Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Fund is considering a $75 million commitment to Clearlake Opportunities Partners II  

Credit traders' kickstand: Trump gives Europe the ghoulies as single B spectres haunt CLOs
Trade tariff terrors and things that go triple C rated in the night are top of the list of items spooking credit market sentiment at the end of this week

Ice seeks consensus with credit risk analytics service
Intercontinental Exchange (Ice) has launched ICE Credit Risk, a suite of analytics it will provide in collaboration with financial risk assessment company Credit Benchmark

Louisiana pension allocates $150 million to US credit funds
The Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana has committed to Torchlight Debt Opportunity Fund VI and Summit Partners Credit III, a spokesperson for the pension fund has confirmed  

Highland names new co-CIO
Highland Capital Management has promoted its global equity trading head to co-CIO, as former co-CIO is named co-head of private equity 

Investors back multi-asset funds for high yield gains
Multi-asset funds that include credit have become popular among institutional investors.

Credit Suisse adds special situations trading head among raft of hires
Credit Suisse has continued to build momentum in its credit business with the hire of a managing director to head special situations and loan trading with its Europe, Middle East and Africa credit products business, following on from nine others across its London and New York credit business

US pension fund to commit $1.1 billion in private credit by 2020
Investment consultant NEPC has recommended that Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) commit $550 million in private credit in both 2019 and 2020, according to a private credit review  

TwentyFour boosts credit team with New York analyst hire
TwentyFour Asset Management has added to its bond team