Credit traders enter 2020 a world away from 2019's opening blues
CDS markets are showing what a difference a year makes, with indices beginning 2020 at post-crisis record or near record tights. And concerns such as Brexit or US-China (and lately UK-China) tensions are doing little to dampen the mood in today's buoyant trading session

Green credit programme reaches €253 million at first close
A green credit continuum programme, launched by Amundi and the European Investment Bank (EIB), held its first close at €253 million  

Rising idiosyncratic risk leads to calls for high yield index tranche fix from traders
As sources of funding dry up for the weakest borrowers in the credit market, some correlation traders are calling for an overhaul of CDX NA HY index tranches to make trades on wide-end dispersion more effective.

Reality bites after credit traders abandon Brexit hedges
Rediscovered faith in the ability of the UK and European Union to reach an agreement before the 31 October Brexit deadline has helped fuel a surge tighter of credit spreads, led by UK financial names. But that break with caution faces an immediate reality check today, following admissions a lot more work is needed

Danish pensions join forces on green strategy
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced that Danish pension funds are set to commit DKK350 billion in green investments, during an event prior to UN Climate Summit in New York  

Swiss manager expands credit capabilities with hire
Asset manager GAM Investments has appointed a credit specialist in a bid to strengthen its global income team  

THL updates credit investment framework to include ESG
THL Credit Advisors has announced that it has developed an investment framework for assessing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in analysing credit quality and risk factors

Esma publishes final guidelines for alternative and Ucits fund liquidity stress-test
Fund managers have just over a year to comply with liquidity stress test final guidelines published yesterday by the European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) for alternative investment funds (AIFs) and undertakings for the collective investment in transferable securities (Ucits)

Swedish pension dismisses CEO over trading rules violation
First Swedish National Pension Fund (AP1) says its has dismissed chief investment officer (CEO) Johan Magnusson, claiming he breached internal regulations in regard to holding and trading financial instruments  

Danish pension's credit portfolio gains 7.7% in 2019
Danish pension fund Arbejdsmarkedets Tillægspension (ATP) generated a return of DKK 2.7 billion ($401.2 million) on its credit portfolio in the first half of 2019, increasing the market value of credit investment to DKK 35 billion, according to H1 results

Cambridge University appoints CIO
The University of Cambridge has named a CIO who previously served at instutituions such as the BBC and Virgin  

UK pension pool launches multi-asset credit search
Border to Coast, a £46 billion ($56.8 billion) partnership between 12 UK pension plans, is seeking for a core multi asset credit manager, for its recently opened multi asset credit fund  

Credit plays a big part as KKR increases AUM by $6.5 billion
KKR grew its assets under management by 8% over the second quarter, according to the firm’s earnings call, which took place on Thursday.

Dutch development bank creates ESG and impact standing committee
The Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) has created a standing committee for impact and environmental, social and governance investing

Calpers misses returns target despite fixed income outperformance
California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers) has missed its annual investment target despite strong performance from its fixed income portfolio, which was its top performer  

Columbia Threadneedle appoints EMEA high yield head
Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) has appointed a head of high yield in Europe, Middle East, and Africa  

Weatherford faces credit event auction with 50% area recoveries implied
The Americas Credit Determinations Committee has agreed to hold an auction to settle CDS referencing Weatherford International, having ruled last week the Houston headquartered oilfield services provider had triggered a bankruptcy credit event

Tranche trading is back: relative value plays power growth
Synthetic bespoke and index tranche markets are shifting through the gears and accelerating, say investors, as an increasing prevalence of relative value trading strategies evoke dreams of the products returning to pre-financial crisis glory.

Credit traders' kickstand: synthetic credit leads the way as spreads swoop on dovish wings
Dovish comments by the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve, along with thin bond issuance, contributed to a pronounced rally this week in credit market. But a nervy week may lie ahead as suspense grows before G20 summit talks between the US and China next Friday and Saturday

HSBC pension chief joins London CIV in top role
London Collective Investment Vehicle (London CIV) has appointed Mark Thompson to serve as chief investment officer (CIO), effective from September.  

Robus lifts soft-close from credit fund after capitalising on late-2018 correction
The soft close for Robus Mid-Market Value Bond Fund has been in place since October 2017

London pension fund appoints interim CIO
London Collective Investment Vehicle, the fund manager for the pooled investments of 32 London Local Authority Pension Funds, has appointed Michael Pratten as interim chief investment officer  

Border to Coast pension seeks exposure to UK investment grade credit
Border to Coast Pensions Partnership is set to begin a manager selection process, seeking UK investment grade credit and global multi-asset credit funds  

New Look triggers credit event with big pay-out likely for CDS
The Europe, Middle East & Africa Determinations Committee has ruled that New Look has triggered a failure-to-pay credit event

Mizuho’s credit trading head departs in London
Mizuho's head of credit trading has departed after just over a year, a spokesperson at the bank has confirmed.