It's a-live! AI platform launch puts US ratings in spotlight
RoboR8, a fintech platform that aims to democratise credit ratings through artificial intelligence, has launched and hopes to rate 50,000 companies by the end of December, before building to several million in 2022.

Sofr transition timing puts CLO debt and equity at odds, says BNP Paribas
CLO investors look to have tough conversations ahead on the structure implications of the transition from Libor to Sofr, with BNP Paribas strategists noting CLO debt will benefit from an early move while equity tranches would do better to wait

There's still time to pick up pennies in credit before steamroller arrives: BNP Paribas
Declining dealer inventories, rising fund cash balances, and a greater prevalence of hedging have added up to produce a credit market that is positioned too short, according to BNP Paribas strategists

Long duration high yield will overcome short-term rates carnage, says BofA
Bonds with inflation-protected real yield, longer duration, and especially those in the utilities sector are among the most compelling trades amid a phase of ‘policy paranoia’, according to Bank of America credit strategists

Credit shrugs off ECB tapering signal, but strategists warn of IG vulnerability
Credit markets are ending the week on a firm footing after taking in their stride the European Central Bank’s message that it expects to limit asset purchases in the coming quarter. But some parts of the market look more vulnerable than others, say strategists

Rising star portfolio has room to run, says JP Morgan
The theme of 'rising stars' still has room to run and investors should consider a basket of candidates to benefit in the coming months, according to JP Morgan credit strategists

High yield compression has one last push after real yields turn negative, says BofA
With real yields for European high yield bonds having turned negative, Bank of America credit strategists see "one last hurrah" for spread compression trades

Lingering covid vies with inflation as top credit threat, finds BofA
Covid-19 lingering is catching up with inflation as credit investors' number one worry, Bank of America's August survey has found. The picture for central bank purchases is bullish, but strategists see industrial and bank senior bonds as shorts for contrarians over the summer

Rising stars will fuel double B boom, says BofA
A rising star cycle is underway and adds to a bullish outlook for double B credits with company results pointing to an ‘epic V-shaped recovery’ in high yield revenues and earnings, say Bank of America credit strategists

Green QE is future, says BofA
Last week's European Central Bank strategy review confirmed that climate change policies will dictate the shape of future asset purchases, say Bank of America credit strategists

CLO demand to drive loan outperformance over bonds: BNP Paribas
The buying power of CLOs and funds could mean leveraged loans rally further and outpace high yield bonds, says BNP Paribas' credit research team

Single Bs and periphery in favour as European HY market deleverages: BofA
Single B, periphery, leisure, retail and services high yield credit all look to offer value, amid indications the European market is deleveraging quicker than expected

ESG drive poses little threat to CLO returns or flexibility, says Moody's
Environmental, social and governance investment criteria are not impairing CLOs either in flexibility or performance, Moody's Investors Service has found in a new report

Corp hybrid popularity mounts, but strategist outlooks diverge
Corporate hybrid bonds are becoming a focal point for investors in the second quarter, with one bank's credit strategy team making them a top pick to trade spread compression while another's has expressed caution on their likely performance

CLO investors still hungry for triple As and double Bs, says JP Morgan
Most CLO investors are looking to add risk through deals in the months ahead, with very few inclined to reduce exposure, a JP Morgan survey has found - despite the historic flood of issuance in the first quarter of this year

Yield rise is buying signal for bonds, says BNP Paribas
Credit spreads are set to hit new cyclical tights in the coming months, with the recent rise in yields having offered an attractive entry point especially for high-rated bonds, say BNP Paribas credit strategists

CLO equity ‘top trade’ could reach mid-teens returns, says JP Morgan
CLOs’ strong start to the year, in which the asset class has asset class has made gains against a sell off in government and corporate bonds, has put equity tranches on course for double digit returns in 2021, according to JP Morgan strategists

UN PRI's upcoming report on ESG in CLOs finds bar is very low
In a preview of the upcoming report, Carmen Nuzzo, head of fixed income at UN Principles for Responsible Investment, reveals to Creditflux key highlights from its ESG in securitisation report

BofA forecasts record European CLO volume in 2021 as another reset prices
Carlyle Group has become the first manager in March to reset a European CLO, while BofA estimates the European CLO market might break a new record in 2021

Rates moves points to credit improvement, say BofA strategists
Focus on the rates market and the future direction of central banks has brought jitters back to credit in recent weeks and had a chilling affect on bond total returns. But higher government yields could end up being good for credit, say Bank of America strategists

ESG growth in CLOs has momentum in 2021, say JPM strategists
ESG investing in securitised products such as CLOs have 'momentum for growth in 2021' despite very slow volume growth and lack of progress in standardised scoring over the past year, say JP Morgan strategists in a research note

Buy CLO equity to capitalise on reflation, says JP Morgan
CLO equity stands out in a tightly priced market as offering up to double digit yields, say JP Morgan structured credit strategists, who posit it as their top trade

Bet on beta compression - except in sub fin CDS, say BofA strategists
Beta compression will be a dominant theme in 2021 for high yield versus investment grade CDS and bonds, financial versus non-financial credit and subordinated versus senior financial bonds, say Bank or America strategists in a research note. Short volatility positions are also attractive, they add, while cautioning sub versus senior financial CDS could buck the trend

Robots rise for credit ratings
A fintech platform is launching this month that aims to use artificial intelligence to democratise credit ratings.

Go long index mezz tranches to pick up spread: Citi
Citi research has outlined some of the opportunities that have arisen in the index tranche market as a result of elevated correlation