Defaults hit 5% YTD for US private debt-backed companies according to Fitch
The monthly default rate for North American private credit-backed companies hit 5% in August, driven by PIKs and interest deferrals

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.

Fitch raises low end of its default forecasts for US leveraged loans and high yield
Fitch Ratings has increased the low end of its US leveraged loan and high yield default forecast ranges to reflect growing macroeconomic headwinds

Credit faces blind spot as borrowers enter higher default cycle: BNP Paribas
With short term rates outstripping nominal GDP growth, the credit cycle is entering its next and final stage – one in which corporate defaults will pick up but high quality borrowers should outperform

EU inflation prints frame challenge ahead as horror show first half ends
Financial markets are heading into the weekend with a rare stationary session, but the mood is more one of shellshock than considered positioning, after one of the worst first halves to a year on record

Manager selection stakes are heightening as CLO pain points intensify: Barclays
CLOs’ slump in market value and piling of distressed assets have made differentiation between managers much more acute on key metrics, regionally and by vintage, according to Barclays credit strategists

CLO and distressed fund recovery disparity could grow, say Barclays
CLO investors should apply a haircut to the $55-60 loan recovery range to better estimate recoveries in CLO models, as the disparity between how distressed debt funds and CLOs extract value in a loan restructuring is expected to widen