Curves and skews come back into play as CDS volumes swell
The rapid growth of the CDS market during the coronavirus pandemic has been consolidated in the second quarter, with investors putting on trades not seen in such volume since the 2008 financial crisis.

High yield borrowers face pressure over social data
Two major themes of the credit market in 2020 are on a collision course: high yield issuers playing catch-up after a dearth of issuance and the Black Lives Matter movement putting the focus on the S of ESG investing

Calpers plans $80 billion leverage play to boost returns
California Public Employees’ Retirement System has outlined plans to boost returns for its nearly $400 billion portfolio in the long term. But the proposal, dubbed ‘towards a 7% solution’, has come under criticism

Governance has greatest impact on short-term changes in company valuation out of ESG factors, finds MSCI
Governance has more impact than environmental and social factors on company financial fundamentals and stock price in the short term, but ‘E’ and ‘S’ play their part over the long term, according to analysis from MSCI

Fund performance: CLO funds keep up the momentum for second month running
May returns have been led by continued momentum from CLO funds. In the last month, funds that invest in CLO notes in some capacity have made up 90% of our top 10, while 97% of funds listed generated positive returns - an improvement of 15% on last month's figures.

Credit funds at a glance (July 2020)
A round-up of fundraising and people moves

Ucits at a glance: Ucits recover lost ground
The foot has come off the gas for many funds - 57% of funds did not break the 2% return barrier.

Index tranche volumes go into overdrive as CSOs stall
CDS index tranche trading has gathered pace during the coronavirus pandemic, putting the asset class on course for a post-2008 crisis record.

Managers prepare for new habits in post-lockdown world
A new world beckons as lockdown measures gradually loosen; one in which consumer behaviour has changed and credit investing will have to adjust. But it won’t be as easy as compartmentalising investments into ‘covid sectors’ and ‘non-covid sectors’.

Canadian pension Imco outlines two-year $6 billion credit plans
The Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (Imco) has a range of credit strategies in its sights as it seeks to deploy $6 billion in the next two years as part of the build out of a global credit platform, according to officials at the company

Points up front: Channelling Twain, Agent Smith and Mike Tyson
Lockdown can adversely affect one’s grasp of reality, and for credit portfolio managers this has manifested itself in a penchant for quoting famous (sometimes fictional) figures

Chesapeake default takes CDS auctions to eight-year high
Chesapeake Energy has been confirmed as the latest CDX HY index constituent to require settlement at auction, after the Americas Determinations Committee ruled it has triggered a bankruptcy credit event

California Res deliverables list points to 98 cents CDS pay-out
Three bonds have made it onto the final list of obligations to settle CDS referencing California Resources Corp, which triggered a failure-to-pay credit event earlier this month

Chesapeake bankruptcy points to hit for CDS and loan holders
Chesapeake Energy looks set to become the latest in a string of defaults to hit US high yield index CDX HY, after the Oklahoma City headquartered shale producer filed for chapter 11 protection

US and Europe diverge as loan trading bands emerge on the continent
Europe and the US are on different courses with credit indices having drifted apart over the past month, say trading sources. Europe is expected to suffer fewer defaults to the extent that "it’s getting quite difficult for borrowers to default”, as one source put it. But the US has "higher growth potential due to its more dynamic economy"

US swaps rule relaxation brings underperformance of bank CDS
US Federal Reserve changes to the Volcker rule has caused bank stocks to surge, but credit market perceptions are less positive

Ouch it Hertz! CDS auction result hits index and protection sellers
Hertz Corporation CDS has been settled at auction at 26.375 cents, much lower than protection sellers might have hoped for only last week. But the final price was slightly better than initial bidding signalled

Pimco stands alone in Hertz CDS tussle as recovery hopes fall
The Americas Determinations Committee has resolved a challenge on Hertz Corp deliverable obligations in time for tomorrow's credit event auction. But it was not a unanimous decision, with Pimco voting against other members

Lufthansa climbs as shareholder airs bailout grievances
Deutsche Lufthansa is among today's biggest underperformers in credit and stock markets, as a battle brews with its largest shareholder over the terms of a €9 billion government bailout for the airline

DC rejects Valaris credit event request
The Americas Determinations Committee has rejected a request to rule on whether UK headquartered offshore driller Valaris has triggered a restructuring credit event

Hertz CDS widens sharply ahead of auction with DC challenge unresolved
The Americas Determinations Committee has extended its deadline to resolve a challenge to obligations for next week's Hertz Corp CDS auction

US jitters set in ahead of monthly options expiry
A gap has opened up again in the performance of European credit versus US ahead of this month's CDS options expiries, after a shakier trading session in New York yesterday

CLOs dodge offshore driller as restructuring credit event question posed
The Americas Determinations Committee has been asked to rule on whether UK headquartered offshore driller Valaris has triggered a restructuring credit event

DC sets tight deadline to resolve Hertz challenge
The Americas Determinations Committtee has set a deadline of 5pm New York time tomorrow to resolve a challenge to obligations for next week's Hertz Corp CDS auction