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The article discusses challenges facing Citgo Petroleum Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuelan state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). Topics discussed include the possible seizure of Citgo by creditors and other businesses if PDVSA fails to make payment on its 2020 bonds, refineries and gasoline stations owned by Citgo in the U.S., and the call on President Donald Trump to take actions to prevent Citgo's splitting.

The article discusses the consequences of the U.S. Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate reversal in 2019. Topics discussed include how the Fed's decision helped halt and partly reverse December 2018's stock sell-off, stress in the market for corporate bonds in December 2018 and implications of the rising value of the dollar.

The article reports that prices for government and corporate bonds in China have slumped in December 2016. Topics mentioned include the decision of the government to temporarily restrain some trading and make emergency loans to struggling financial institutions, the decision of the Federal Reserve to raise short-term interest rates, and Beijing's efforts to wring excess money from its financial system.

The article cites statistics released by the central bank the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to state that large U.S. banks reported holding negative $1.4 billion of investment-grade corporate bonds maturing in at least 13 months for the first time in history for the week ending October 28, 2015. The article discusses the potential impact of the figures on the U.S. central bank the Federal Reserve (Fed) and its deliberations on raising the interest rate.

The article cites data from financial services firm Barclays PLC to state that municipal (muni) bonds sold by U.S. state and local governments were posting a rate of return of about two percent as of November 5, 2015, which was higher than the rate of return on corporate bonds and many other asset classes. The article discusses the relative safety of municipal bonds and compares them to U.S. Treasurys and states that municipal bonds had a total return of nine percent in 2014. INSET: What to Look for When Investing in Municipal Bonds..

The article cites data from financial software firm Dealogic to state that U.S. bond sales by corporations with good credit reached $103 billion in October 2015, a record for the month. According to the article, analysts believed that bond sales would continue at a high rate due to economic growth, investor demand, and efforts by corporate treasurers to secure low interest rates. The article discusses bond sales for several corporations including U.S. computer technology firm Microsoft Corp., insurer ACE Ltd., and sports apparel firm Nike Inc.

The article discusses worries among investors concerning a slump in commodities that could cause defaults on emerging-market corporate bonds as of early October 2015, particularly if the U.S. central bank the Federal Reserve raises interest rates. According to the article, the benchmark indicator the J.P. Morgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index declined during the latter half of 2015, and the organization the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicated that the corporate debt of nonfinancial firms in emerging-market economies rose to $18 trillion at the end of 2014.

The article states that the difference in yield between U.S. corporate bonds from traditionally strong U.S. corporations and U.S. Treasury securities was steadily increasing as of the end of September 2015. According to the article, such a trend has traditionally portended economic difficulties. The article states that U.S. investment-grade corporate bonds yielded 1.62 percentage points more than U.S. Treasurys as of September 24, 2015. The article presents comments from financial services firm Wells Fargo Investment Institute co-head of global fixed-income strategy Brian Rehling.

The article states that cash-rich corporations such as Apple Inc. Oracle Corp., and Johnson & Johnson were purchasing corporate bonds sold by firms including Verizon Communications Inc. and Gilead Sciences Inc. as part of a trend that saw over half of corporate cash held by U.S. firms being invested in investment-grade corporate bonds in August 2015. According to the article, corporations were betting that highly-rated corporate bonds would pay high rates, and banking rules initiated by the U.S. central bank the Federal Reserve made corporate deposits more expensive.

The article states that corporate bond sales increased significantly during trading on September 9, 2015, and that about $28 billion of investment-grade bonds were sold. According to the article, about a dozen companies including biotechnology firm Gilead Sciences Inc., home improvement retailer Lowe's Cos., and hotel company Marriott International Inc. issued bonds. The article also discusses anticipation among traders and analysts that the U.S. central bank the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates later in September.

The article states that U.S. corporations such as Wells Fargo & Co., American Honda Finance Co., and AT&T Inc. put a record amount of new debt deals in eurozone bond markets as of early September 2015. The article cites data from the data provider Dealogic to state that U.S. companies had raised €54 billion in eurozone bond markets as of September 7, 2015. The article presents comments from the bank Deutsche Bank AG managing director Frazer Ross.

The article discusses the January 22, 2015 announcement by European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi that beginning in March the ECB would embark upon a program of buying 60 billion euros worth of bonds each month through at least September 2016. The securities will include both government and corporate bonds. Draghi dismissed the idea that the new policy could promote excessive inflation. Stock prices in the U.S. rose sharply on the news.

The article discusses vigorous sales of corporate bonds in the U.S. During 2014 there were 18 flotations of highly-rated corporate debt valued at over $5 billion apiece, the most since 2009. Drug company Actavis PLC and oil-field services provider Halliburton Co. are among companies expected to hold large bond sales in 2015. Helping to drive the trend are low interest rates and a liquid market where investors wishing to sell bonds are having little difficulty finding buyers.