BofA revises Euro CLO new issuance forecasts downwards
Bank of America CLO strategists have cut their base case forecasts for European CLO volume in 2022 to €22.6 billion for new issues and €10 billion for refi/resets, citing slower economic growth and higher tail risks. But further market disruption could take new issuance down to €16.5 billion, they warned

Russia oil ban accord unites markets in sell off
EU leaders’ compromise agreement on banning Russian oil imports by sea has presented a united front few may have thought possible only days ago. But financial markets have not reacted positively, with risk assets selling off as the euro slumps and oil hits its highest level since March

Fund outflows extend despite sharp improvement in credit performance
This has been a much better week for credit and equity market performance than last, but that has not stopped the tide of investors looking to withdraw their money from funds for such risk assets

Bespoke bond baskets on the rise as investors seek targeted portfolio trades
High yield index replication and accessing illiquid exposure are two factors building momentum for a new investment approach that bundles bonds into a single risk piece

Credit fund bleed out looks hard to stem, as hawks ignore macro gloom
Ever more investors are running to safety as risk assets tally up another rough week, with strategists warning there is no end in sight for credit fund outflows while central banks hold their course on rate hikes

Credit retreats from wides, but worrisome test levels remain in view
Another rocky week for markets is ending with credit finding a firmer tone. But big questions remain unanswered about relative value and the levels some sectors could test

Post-Fed volatility prompts stark reassessment of credit relative value
Central bank policy moves have caught markets off-guard, with volatility ensuing and spreads hitting new wides 

German real estate co troubles mount on short-seller response and earnings no-show
Friday is proving a bad day to end a bad week in a bad year for Germany's Adler Group, with debt risk measures hitting new levels as short-seller Viceroy responds to the firm's recent investigation by KPMG and the market rumour mill goes up a gear

High yield / loan slowdown affects year-end projections and pricing: Barclays
A sharp decline in primary market activity means expectations for high yield bond and even leveraged loan issuance need to be lowered, say Barclays credit strategists. And that in turn has implications for relative value

CLOs look attractive after corporate rally - but not all tranches: Barclays
Rallying corporate cash credit spreads over the past two weeks have widened the basis with CLOs and made these products look attractive again, according to Barclays strategists

Hidden loan tail risks and mounting single B exposure could pose problem for CLOs: Barclays
A solid rally for leveraged loans this week - against returning weakness in bonds - has put focus back on the market, which seemingly has little tail risk priced in. But short term support factors and a dwindling triple C bucket mask the quality skew, warn Barclays strategists in a note today - which could spell downgrades for single-B minus rated loans

European CLOs well-placed to counter volatility: Fitch
High inflation could hamper borrowers, but European CLOs are in decent shape with most loan issuers having refinanced last year, according to a report by Fitch Ratings. Other parts of structured credit are not as well insulated against risks. 

Volatility has teed up decompression trades: Barclays
Recent credit market turbulence has brought relative value trading opportunities between cash bonds and CDS, credit and equity as well as between investment grade and high yield, particularly in Europe

CLO mezz investors are homing in on documentation: Morgan Stanley
European CLO mezzanine investors paid close attention to documentation over the past 12 months, with junior overcollateralisation test criteria, weighted average life extesions and approval for collateral quality key areas of focus, say Morgan Stanley strategists

CLO equity could get hurt by mismatch in credit spread adjustments: Barclays
The possibility that borrowers and sponsors start to use their clout to scrap credit spread adjustments from leveraged loans poses a risk for new CLO equity, while legacy deals also face transition challenges

Impact of Russia-Ukraine war on Euro CLOs will be indirect, finds BofA
European companies largely do not have much direct exposure to Russia or Ukraine, but pricing and inflationary pressures may impact companies

CLO investor cash balances at lowest levels since 2009: JP Morgan research
A survey conducted by JP Morgan has suggested that CLO investors' cash balances are at their lowest levels since 2009 - but most managers want to add risk in the coming months 

Credit awash with volatility in first week but investors load up
It has been a volatile opening week to the year for credit, but one in which investors have allocated bullishly to credit funds

Euro bonds set to outperform US despite big fund outflows: BofA
The November credit crash has left Euro investment grade bonds wider than those in the US, a rare occurrence that sets the scene for a January rally, say Bank of America credit strategists

CLO lower cap stack will outperform with $175bn new issuance in 2022: JP Morgan
Equity and lower rated tranche investors will do best as $175 billion of global new CLO issuance arrives in 2022, predict JP Morgan strategists in their annual outlook, taking market size to $1.2 trillion

Loans will be winners in bearish year for credit: BNP Paribas
Floating rate loans are best positioned for a year of widening credit spreads, but high yield bonds will outperform investment grade and EM credit is set for losses, says BNP Paribas in its 2022 outlook

Slow and sustainable trades will win race in '22: BofA
A year on from the US presidential election and unveiling of covid-19 vaccines, the credit compression looks challenged. But 'laggards' and sectors with strong capex growth still hold promise

Credit bull run falters as central bank glow abates
Thoughts that the credit market had taken a positive directional shift are turning, after Tuesday’s session has brought a sizeable retracement wider, but credit strategists predict an overall firming of tone into the end of the year off the back of dovish central bank meetings

CB bond purchase 'greening' is game changer for credit: BofA
Confirmation by the Bank of England that its corporate bond purchase scheme will be ‘greened’ is a game changing moment for credit markets, say Bank of America strategists

Europe dominates ESG issuance, but US is racing to catch up: BofA
The stark gap between European and other regions in issuing ESG bonds has been thrown into the spotlight by last week’s COP26 summit. Nevertheless, encouraging data suggests the US is accelerating fast in its drive to bridge the gulf, finds Bank of America