Sovereign bonds
Self-referencing CDS risk?
Ballooning credit default swap spreads on European sovereigns have encouraged some market participants to sell credit protection on their own country. But how much is this protection really worth, and could this selling contribute to systemic risk? Mark…
Slow ahead for euro rates business
Investors have grown increasingly worried about exposures to eurozone sovereigns given the problems faced by Greece and others. Christophe Mianné, head of global markets at SG CIB, warns the second quarter will prove to be tough for the European rates…
Brazil leads booming sovereign CDS trade
Sovereign CDS transactions eclipsed corporate protection volume in past nine months.
High yield may suffer after government stimulus withdrawal: Jeff Burch profile
The co-head of credit at Investec Asset Management says double-B companies may struggle if economic growth stalls after governments pull the plug on their stimulus measures.
Risk Europe: euro volatility and regulatory uncertainty biggest concerns, say CROs
Buy-side chief risk officers voice their concerns about the effects of regulatory inconsistency on volatility.
Eurozone contagion fears hit eastern Europe as investors seek safe havens
Bond investors are looking to the relative safety of Poland and the Czech Republic as the Eurozone debt crisis takes toll on eastern Europe’s smaller economies.
Retail bonds could be part of solution for ailing European sovereigns
Barclays Capital economist says Spain and Portugal should look to replicate Italian government in tapping retail investors for future bond deals.
Sovereign ratings on UK, US, Japan under fire from credit investors
After Greece, Portugal and Spain suffered rating downgrades in April due to escalating fiscal problems, investors ask if the same standards are being applied to advanced economies.
Eurozone CDS spreads stabilise
CDS spreads across the eurozone stabilised in early trading, but Greek spreads rose steadily.
Portuguese insurers shielded from sovereign risk, claims regulator
A focus on high-grade corporate bonds in their investment portfolios is insulating Portuguese life insurers from the continued market pressure on the country's sovereign debt, according to Instituto de Seguros de Portugal (ISP), the country's insurance…
CDS spreads slashed as EU emergency measures kick in
News of a massive EU rescue package has boosted market confidence in European sovereign and bank debt.
European banks count the cost of sovereign exposure
As Greek debt continues to fall, banks are assessing their vulnerability to the crisis spreading across Europe.
Investors dispute claims sovereign downgrades were hasty
Senior EU officials may have criticised the rating agencies for reacting too aggressively to Europe’s fiscal woes, but investors say the reverse is true and the agencies remain behind the curve.
Rating agencies under scrutiny once more
Rapid downgrade of Greece prompts Barnier to call for an investigation into CRA practices.
Russia $5.5bn bond establishes benchmark curve
The Russian Federation returned to the international markets last month for the first time since its 1998 default, potentially paving the way for corporate issuers to follow.
Yields on Africa debt drive new demand from credit investors
Risks to investment include high inflation and corporate governance problems in many African countries.
EXCLUSIVE: Greece debt crisis may break the Eurozone
Fears mount over Greece's ability to reduce fiscal deficit and service debt repayments, despite Eurozone-IMF bailout package.
Inflation issuers face Greek fallout
Issuance of sovereign inflation-linked bonds is expected to reach record highs this year as governments struggle with vast fiscal deficits. With investors shaken by the crisis in Greece, however, some issuers may have to draw on the lessons of the crisis…
Flood of sovereign debt drowns out corporate bonds
Elevated government borrowing will be a fixture of the credit markets for the foreseeable future, as emergency spending and tax shortfalls heighten state financing needs. But could this excess supply of sovereign debt threaten demand for corporate bonds?…
Sovereign default the greatest threat: IMF
Sovereign default risk has soared and is the biggest threat to near-term stability, some segments of banking systems also present dangers