Snooze - you’re extended! Can lenders in European SFAs sleep-walk into extended tranches? - Xtract Special Report
This Xtract Research special report asks whether lenders under European SFAs could find themselves re-designated into a later-maturing facility or tranche than originally documented without their explicit consent

Refinancing continues to dominate headline figures in latest European leveraged highlights
Debtwire has released its July 2023 European Leveraged Highlights, containing key trends in the leveraged loan and high-yield bond markets

1H23 European direct lender rankings
The volume of European direct lending facilities issued fell to just €8.5 billion in 2Q23. The same quarter last year was the largest on record at €51.3 billion, representing over an 80% drop year on year.

Retail maintains primacy as most distressed sector in Europe with €31 billion of debt restructuring commenced in 1H23
Newly commenced restructurings tracked by Debtwire in Europe during 1H 2023 show 114 mainly large-cap restructurings, compared to 89 tracked in 1H 2022, a 28% increase year-on-year

Last frontier: Common currency conquers non-Eurozone countries to dominate lev loan market
Our latest DebtDynamics EMEA research shows that the share of the European leveraged loan syndication market denominated in the EU common currency jumped from 80% in 2015 to levels closer to 95% since 2019  

DebtDynamics North America: Likely-to-distress scores highlight struggling industries
Out of a universe of more than 12,000 leveraged US companies, 180 are in the stressed/distressed lifecycle categories

Private credit default index shows surprise decrease in the second quarter
Proskauer’s Default Index of the US private credit market was 1.64% in the second quarter, a significant decrease from 2.15% in 1Q23.

US sponsor-led loans show sharp deterioration in covenant quality
Credit underwriting standards in the US continued to fall in the second quarter of 2023, according to a new special report from Xtract Research.

New IACPM survey points to a global recession
Respondents to the latest IACPM Credit Outlook Survey overwhelmingly expect global economies to fall into recession either later this year or sometime in 2024.

June 2023 US Leveraged Highlights
Debtwire has released the June 2023 US Leveraged Highlights, featuring key trends in the leveraged loan and high yield bond markets.

High yield bond index offers opportunities for credit pickers
The global high yield bond market has become a skewed barbell offering benefits to credit pickers, according to a new research note from global asset manager Ninety One. 

Largarde snowballs puncture complacent calm and shocks spreads wider
Credit markets are ending the week on a big push wider, after European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde delivered the surprise that had been missing from other central bank messaging

Major fund withdrawals undermine credit momentum
Credit funds are extending their run of inflows into the end of the year, but investment grade momentum took a dent last week due to investors in one big fund pulling their money

Capex and real yields will split winners from losers in '23: BofA
Companies able to undertake capital expenditure will be the winners in 2023, while those historically most sensitive to rising real yields should inspire caution, say Bank of America strategists

Rebuke for optimism as US jobs send market bulls running for cover
Investors’ determination to maintain an optimistic outlook on US Federal Reserve policy hit a point of reckoning on Friday, with hot US jobs numbers adding weight to committee members’ message that there is still a lot more work for them to do

Powell outlook brings risk buyers out in droves, but reality check looks soon to follow
Comments by US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday on the pace of future rate hikes have prompted a sharp rally across global financial markets, including credit. But dissenting voices have already begun to point out the enthusiasm is likely overdone

Public credit markets "most attractive for 15 years" says Wamco
The US Federal Reserve is helping to create the potential for the "most attractive opportunity in public credit markets in the last 15 years", according to a research note published by Western Asset Management

Credit Suisse tests investor nerves as market preps for Fed-focused week
Credit Suisse, which has been subjected to another week of intense scrutiny, is heading into the weekend with its credit spreads extending wider, after warning on losses and undertaking a capital hike

Swiss bank looks to plug holes but investors are hun-gruyere for risk
Credit Suisse is a rare, worrisome cloud in an otherwise brightening sky this week, as Europe extends its tightening trend in credit with the US standing at ease for the Thanksgiving holiday

Outsized corporate rally puts financials RV in focus
The week is ending with resumption of credit’s recent rally after a brief pause, and Europe once again taking the lead over the US

Things are looking up... for curve steepener trades: Barclays
Investment grade credit index curves look too flat, say Barclays strategists – and that makes it a compelling time to consider steepener trades in Europe and the US

European outperformance creates index options trading mismatch: Barclays
The recent outperformance of European credit over US has shifted the value of iTraxx index options, but CDX index volatility premiums stand out for having hit a new low

Financials offer relative value opportunities after synthetic credit overshoot: BNP Paribas
A technical squeeze, driven by investor risk appetite but also short covering, has taken some parts of the synthetic credit to a point where cash bonds look to offer better relative value

Credit euphoria follows CPI, but analysts warn of comedown
Softer than expected US inflation numbers have ignited a spectacular rally in financial markets. But strategists and economists warn against the exuberance, arguing more pain is likely on the way

Up to 40% more US loan supply will hit primary market next year: Barclays
US leveraged loan supply in 2023 will outstrip this year’s tally by a good margin, according to Barclays credit strategists in New York. But it will remain below average, particularly given the increased size of the index