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The article reports on the state of the business sector, including the corporate bond market, in the U.S. and Europe amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as of July 2020. Topics discussed include operational and market performance of corporations including British retail firm Marks & Spencer and U.S.-based food company Kraft Heinz, impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures on the industrial sector, and the state of speculative-grade bonds trading.

The article presents business-related news briefs on topics including the Saudi Aramco oil company's first bond sale on international markets which raised 12 billion dollars. America's trade dispute with the European Union is addressed, along with aerospace company Boeing Co.'s stock price decline in the wake of two fatal crashes involving the firm's 737 aircraft. U.S. President Donald Trump's push for interest rate cuts is also examined.

The article describes the condition of the corporate bond market in the U.S. in 2018. It indicates the consequences of investing in corporate bonds in the aging business cycle. Investors are warned about the surge in so-called leveraged loans. Also discussed is the impact of an interest rate increase and corporate leverage on the corporate bond market.

The article discusses the BBB credit rating of most corporate bond issuers in the U.S. Topics explored include the link between this rating and the financial management strategies of concerned firms, the lack of effect of a company's capital structure on its valuation, and the economic factors that need to be considered before purchasing corporate bonds.

The article focuses on difficulties with creating of American-style capital markets and entrepreneurship in Europe. It talks about startup companies in several European Union cities and money raised by European venture-capital funds and compares it to their American counterparts. It mentions that the American corporate-bond market is three times larger than Europe's and comments that European companies rely heavily on banks which have curbed lending since the global financial crisis.

The article focuses on the stock market and corporate bond market in U.S. It discusses the stock trading by using electronic platforms and impact of financial crisis on capital regulations in U.S. It also discusses the impact of automation of equity markets on the earnings of brokers and impact of technological innovations in equity market on investors and issuers.

The article discusses developments in the pensions industry, particularly in the U.S., as of late July 2016. Also cited are the more aggressive approach to risk of public funds than private funds in the country due to a regulatory incentive, the use by private-sector pension funds to use corporate-bond yields to discount future liabilities, and the accounting rules in the U.S. that established perverse incentives for public pension funds.

The article discusses corporate debt markets, the issuance of corporate bonds in the U.S., and an analysis of the impact of the 2012 American presidential election on interest rates. It states that several companies such as the retailer Costco Wholesale Corp. have issued billions of dollars in debt as a means of paying out large dividends. An examination of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board's policy on interest rates is also provided.

The article discusses the finances of the international banking industry, focusing on large banks in Europe. A loss of liquidity by banks in Europe caused by fears among financiers that the banks will suffer large losses on their holdings of euro area countries' public debts is examined. An increase in the spreads of credit default swaps on corporate bonds of large U.S. banks is discussed.

The article focuses on the likelihood the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) will increase interest rates (IR) in 2016. It states in December 2015 the Fed increased IR from between 0.25 percent (%) and 0.5%, the first increase since 2008. It mentions that concerns over economic growth in China, stock market losses, and spreads on corporate bonds caused the Fed to hold off on an expected rate increase in January and March of 2015. It suggests the economy is doing well enough to result in a rate increase.

The article focuses on the stock market in the U.S. from 2014-2015. It discusses an increase in interest rates imposed by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on December 14, 2015, the U.S. monetary policy, and an encouragement to investors to acquire risky assets such as corporate bonds and equities. The article also discusses the sharp increase in bond yields and its effect in the U.S. economic activity.

The article focuses on the southeast Asian bond market in 2015 and factors which could impact bond performance. It states from 2005-2014 the annual bond issuance for southeastern Asian nations grew from 38 billion to 109 billion dollars while corporate bond issuance grew from 20 billion to 78 billion dollars. It mentions factors behind the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 which was caused by a strengthening U.S. dollar and speculates on the impact increased U.S. interest rates will have.

The author comments on the growing trend of securitization in the U.S. investment market. He mentions that the value of new asset-backed securities may for the first time exceed that of traditional corporate bonds. He points out that securitization has become popular because issuers gain instant access to money for which they would otherwise have to wait months or years. He adds that issuers can shed some of the risk that their expected revenues will not materialize.

The article discusses corporate bond default in the U.S. Bond investors in the beginning of 2009 looked at the spreads of corporate debt and saw opportunity for investment. Bank of America Merrill Lynch conducted a survey of bond managers and found that 80% saw inflows into their funds and only 2% saw outflows.

The article examines government securities prices. Yields on U.S. Treasury bonds are at historic lows of less than one percent as investors have sought a safe haven during the financial crisis. Government securities yields have begun to rise in early 2009, however, as the spread between those rates and the returns offered by stock dividends and corporate bonds grew to levels of over 3 percent.

The article presents information on the U.S. financial market. It is noted that compared with Treasury bonds, yields on corporate debt have shot up to levels not seen since before the 1987 stockmarket crash or, before that, the 1930s depression. In part, corporate bonds look so cheap because Treasury bonds are in short supply and hence so dear. It is informed that mutual funds that specialise in corporate bonds have done badly of late.

The article discusses several economic and financial indicators of several countries in 1993. The rates of investment returns of the U.S. in venture capital, commercial property, corporate bonds, consumer-price inflation and small-company shares are revealed. The trade deficit of Great Britain between 1992 and 1993 is discussed. Meanwhile, the 12-month trade surplus of Australia rose to $1.7 billion in January 1993, while its current account deficit declined to $8.6 billion over the same period.