French co rattles investors on micro level as Russia overclouds macro
After a cautious opening, investors in the European credit market have resumed hedging as western leaders continue to talk up the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine and the Kremlin has dismissed hopes of a Biden-Putin summit as premature

Ukrainian volatility speaks loud and clear after Russia talks fail
Ukrainian and Russian credit are ending the week with renewed volatility, as failed attempts at diplomatic talks appeared to exacerbate rather than simmer down tensions between the countries

Saipem extends recovery as credit market stabilises
Saipem is the credit market's main mover on Thursday in a flatter day for spreads following recent volatility

Relief rally for riskiest credits brings reversal on dispersion and first loss trades
Some of the European high yield credit market's riskiest corporate credits are enjoying a strong relief rally, among signals of reprieve from the woes that have beset them in recent weeks

Saipem near-term default risk spikes following Moody's downgrade
Saipem's CDS curve has inverted precariously to reflect the company having become the most likely near-term default in the iTraxx Crossover index

Credit hedge funds (February 2022)
Credit hedge fund returns

Credit funds at a glance (February 2022)
A round up of fundraising and people moves in credit

Ironshield prepares for ‘choppier’ kind of dislocation
Distressed debt investors are casting an eye over Europe as a cocktail of inflationary pressures, supply chain shortages and geopolitical risks weigh on corporate credit

Fund performance: Wasserstein's early 2021 performance drives it to the top
The final top 10 of 2021 featured a variety of funds as five different strategies were ranked among the best. US high yield was the most highly represented with two BlackRock funds and an Angel Oak in the top 10

Saipem's fall lands it among Europe's riskiest borrowers
Saipem has placed itself among the riskiest companies in the European high yield credit market, with its deterioration in spreads extending as it negotiates with investors to shore up ailing finances

Engineering company gaps wider as earnings slump invites debt wrangles
Saipem is a standout mover in the European credit market on Monday after warning on profits

Heavy market rout takes credit back to November 2020 levels
High volatility is gripping financial markets at the end of a week that has been decisively bearish for credit spreads, as concerns about the end of central bank stimulus and warnings of a Russian invasion of Ukraine next month layer on pain for investors

Credit Rendezvous: the upside of inflation
It is clear, inflation is not transitory and central banks are acting with several interest rate hikes likely in store for the US this year. That makes loans and CLO debt tranches attractive, but there could be opportunities beyond these floating rate assets

See what's next: Netflix gives whole market a chill
Financial markets look set to end the week once again on a bearish trajectory, with fears over consumer confidence and company earnings helping take credit spreads back to their widest levels since the start of December

Gapstow expects strategic deals as credit manager M&A volume slumps to $120 billion
M&A volume involving credit asset managers dropped last year with total target value assets under management slumping to $120 billion from $149 billion in 2020 (and $254 billion in 2019), according to Gapstow Capital Partners

Värde promotes three credit specialists to partner
Värde Partners has promoted Jim Dunbar, Aneek Mamik and Carlos Sanz Esteve to partner

Ukraine and Russia volatility steps up amid political trial and conflict fears
Ukrainian and Russian spreads are among the market's biggest movers at the start of the week, as developing tensions between the two countries ramp up another notch and former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has arrived in Kyiv to face treason charges

Riskiest names lead US credit rally as big number looms
US companies at the wider end of the high yield market have led the market's repositioning rally ahead of Wednesday's key inflation numbers, as investors brace for what could be a directional signal for Federal Reserve policy

Caution returns to credit trading following tech sector rout
After a strong Tuesday session, financial markets are taking a more cautious step back on Wednesday amid returning inflation concerns and following a weak session for Chinese tech stocks

Aoyuan CDS needs physical settlement as credit event fails auction liquidity rule
Holders of CDS referencing China Aoyuan will have to physically settle contracts, the Determinations Committee has confirmed, given a lack of depth to markets for the entity

Credit takes confidence from central banks turning hawkish
In a remarkable twist on the previous narrative, credit markets have reacted positively to a hawkish turn in central bank policy even as daily covid cases surge to new heights

Credit hedge funds (January 2022)
Credit hedge fund returns

Credit funds at a glance (January 2022)
A round up of fundraising and people moves in credit

Determinations Committee agrees to rule on first credit event question in 10 months
Credit event triggers are back on the market's list of discussion points for the first time since February, with the Determinations Committee having agreed to rule on an Asian failure to pay question

Credit Fundraising: mega funds contribute to record-breaking month as volume hits $39bn
The sheer size of the funds raised in November more than compensated for a drop in the number of funds raised as fundraising volume in credit reached $38.9 billion. This beat September by $2.4 billion to make it the most productive month of credit fundraising in 2021