Credit investors fall into a trap

Amid the extreme volatility in financial markets around the world so far this year, one of the biggest surprises has been the strength of the US debt markets. It has been a roaring start to the year. In January over $70 billion of high-grade corporate paper of between two and 30 years’ maturity was issued. Short-term interest rate cuts helped create a steeper yield curve, which historically has been good for corporate bonds.

With a further $45 billion following in February, investors absorbed within two months roughly 30% of all last year’s primary-market volume.