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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 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 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 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.

The article presents forecasts on stock market volatility for 2015. Topics include market pullbacks in 2014, and conditions in 2015 such as more expensive stocks and less clear conditions; the U.S. Federal Reserve's stance towards interest rates and the continuation of its bond buying program; and the impact of economic conditions in the European Union (EU) and China.

The article looks at the U.S. corporate bond market, presenting information on the volume of bond issues in 2014, noting the high volume in the first week of September, and discussing forecasts of interest rates and U.S. Federal Reserve monetary policy shifts as factors affecting the market.