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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 discusses a shift toward corporate bond purchases encouraged by Indian government economic policy in relation to bank lenders.

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 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 financial market reactions to revised global economic forecasts in 2016. It states despite an increase in default rates for corporate bonds and economic forecasts begin revised downward, bond spreads paid by corporate borrowers has significantly fallen while share prices have seen a strong rally. It reports that data is suggesting the Chinese economy is only undergoing a slowdown, while the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to move cautiously in interest rates.

The article explores the performance of the global corporate bond market as of January 30, 2015. Topics discussed include the negative yields of European corporate bonds, the quantitative easing of the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England to encourage investors to purchase riskier assets and the asset withdrawal of investors in high-yield bonds.

This article discusses the potential for financial volatility to undermine the global insurance market. The volatility of the insurance markets is framed in terms of their investment in assets such as corporate bonds that are now subject to the skepticism of investors. Questions about the potential for losses that are not accounted for in a transparent fashion are considered as a potential threat to the stability of these companies.

The article discusses the impact of the suspension of the redemptions of three investment funds by asset management firm BNP Paribas Investment Partners LC in August 2007. According to a mutual fund managed by a firm called Third Avenue Funds, the febrile state of the markets and the rush of withdrawals had triggered the sale of the fund's holdings at fire-sale prices. The concern of regulators that the illiquidity of corporate bonds could develop a problem for fund managers is also tackled.

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 offers the author's insights on the state of domestic bond market in China. Topics discussed include a wave of defaults in the increase of debt issuance, the decline in the average interest rate paid on outstanding debt in the country according to Hua Chuang Securities, and the spread between interest rates on government and corporate bonds.

The article looks at problems associated with rising corporate-bond spreads, or increases in the difference between the interest rates paid by governments and blue-chip firms and those paid by borrowers assumed to carry more risk. According to the author, rising spreads may indicate investors' larger concern about the state of the economy. Decreases in commodity prices and emerging-market growth are also discussed.

The article presents business-related news briefs for the week of June 6, 2015. It states Australia's economy expanded by 2.3 percent in the first quarter of 2015 due to a stronger-than-expected increase in mining exports. It mentions an investigation into the crash of an Airbus A400 military cargo aircraft in May 2015 concluded three of four engines failed to respond to cockpit commands, possibly due to defective software. It reports oil company Petrobras issued 100-year bonds in U.S. dollars.

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 editorial looks at financial systems and financial regulation, as of 2014. It expresses opposition to a proposal to designate some investment funds as systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs), which would subject them to additional regulations in areas including capital reserves. Topics include risk factors in financial crises, the corporate bond market, and hedge fund regulation.

The article looks at the condition of the global financial system, as of July 2014. The author describes trends in the repurchase agreement, or repo, market for short-term security sales, saying they may portend future financial instability. Topics include bank liquidity regulations imposed following the 2008 global financial crisis, trading volumes in fixed-income securities, and the corporate bond market.

The article examines green bonds, corporate bonds issued to finance environmental activities of corporations, and their growing use by companies and purchase by institutional investors.

The article focuses on the first default in the domestic bond market in China since its central bank began regulating it in 1997. It states Shanghai Solar Energy Science and Technology Co. declared on March 4, 2014 it would be unable to make the full interest payment on a corporate bond. It mentions it previously escaped a potential bond default when its local government intervened and comments there is no sign of a new bailout. It speculates on potential market reaction to further defaults.

The article discusses computerized securities trading. The author attributes the diminished influence in the stock market of high-frequency traders to the increased use of computerized trading by investment banks and other market participants. He believes that in 2014 computers will become dominant in other trading markets including those for corporate bonds and credit derivatives.

The article focuses on corporate hybrid bonds and its effect on company credit ratings. It states that banks have been issuing financial instruments called hybrid bonds as an effort to strengthen balance sheets and mentions that corporate hybrid bonds are treated by rating agencies as part-equity and part-bond. It talks about the increased risk for hybrid bonds and comments that in theory the maturity dates for hybrid bonds is very long.

The article looks at corporate finance, focusing on corporate bonds. It reports on the large September 2013 bond issue by telecommunications company Verizon Communications, noting it was aimed at financing the company's acquisition of the remaining stake in its wireless business, and offers statistics on the overall volume of corporate bond issues in January-August 2013. Topics include yields on corporate versus government bonds and bond market liquidity.

The article focuses on concerns about a potential asset-price bubble in the corporate-bond market. It states that yields of corporate bonds have fallen from over six percent in 2008 to close to three percent in 2012. It mentions U.S. Federal Reserve governor Jeremy Stein who talked about payment-in-kind bonds, where interest payments are made with more bonds instead of cash, and covenant-lite loans, that have fewer safeguards for creditors. It reflects on the reduced supply of new securities.

The article focuses on the corporate bond market and concerns that an asset bubble is growing. It states that government bond yields are near record lows in many markets and return on cash is nearly zero, resulting in investors seeking higher-yield investments. It mentions risks with investing in corporate bond if the economy either dips into recession and causes more defaults or if the economy undergoes a sharp rebound.

The author offers opinions on the bond market in developing countries. It is stated that the higher prices for corporate bonds of companies in countries such as Brazil, India and Singapore is not necessarily a bubble, as these bonds represent an alternative to the extremely low rate of return on bonds and government securities in Europe and the U.S.

The article discusses steps taken by the Bank of Japan to spur the Japanese economy. In addition to lowering its policy interest rate, the bank has reaffirmed its intention to keep interest rates down and suggested it might begin forcing money into the economy by purchasing corporate bonds, commercial paper, and other assets from banks.

The article discusses the market for corporate bonds in 2010. Amidst a global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, bond prices reflected widespread expectations for large numbers of defaults. Due in part to the generally sound health of corporate balance sheets and increasing corporate productivity, defaults have not been as numerous as anticipated.

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 discusses efforts by European companies to raise money by selling bonds to retail investors. Italian firm Eni and French utility EDF have successfully participated in the retail market, and Enel of Italy plans to target both institutional and retail investors with a forthcoming ten-billion-euro issue.

The article discusses the global financial crisis, indicating that while retail investors have begun to be willing to take risk, the financial crisis has yet to end. Topics include investors who are investing in corporate-bond funds and investor disappointment with the return on investment (ROI) of savings accounts.

This article discusses the risk premiums assigned by the market for corporate bonds from companies including Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and General Electric Co. (GE) subsidiary GE Capital Corp. Forecasts relating to the volatility of credit markets from analysts including Standard & Poor's Corp. and Dresdner Kleinwort are considered. These risk premiums stem from the fact that corporations and governments are equally unenthusiastic about purchasing volatile assets.

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 examines the market for corporate bonds. The interest rate spreads between corporate bonds and government securities are at record highs, meaning corporate bonds offer high yields at relatively little risk, but investors remain extremely reluctant to buy them. This is a reaction to the financial crisis. In the years preceding the collapse of the housing bubble, bond issuers demanded and got very low interest rates from investors.

The article examines a decision of Indonesia's supreme court made public on October 31, 2008 reversing a lower court decision to free the company Asian Pulp & Paper from $500 million in debt obligations in the form of corporate bonds. Investors in the corporate bonds of developing countries were pleased with the judgment. Some investors, however, had already settled with the company before the decision was announced.

The article discusses corporate bonds that are being offered by the supermarket chain Tesco. This week Tesco approached the bond markets with an unusual lure to creditors. Its long-term bonds included a covenant that would protect bondholders' interests in the unlikely event that Tesco is gobbled up. Bankers say it is not the first time that Tesco's bonds have included such a "change of control" clause. Other companies are being pressed to follow its lead. There are two reasons why. First is the pace and scale of takeover activity around the world, with bidders employing cheap debt in colossal volumes. Second, creditors that have lent with few strings attached in recent, easy-money years are learning to be a bit more demanding. The very attributes that attract bondholders to a borrower, such as large, stable cashflow to service debt, are the same that entice a leveraged buy-out (LBO) fund. So without change-of-control safeguards, the danger of being blindsided is growing. According to Louise Purtle, a strategist at CreditSights, a research boutique, two of the biggest recent deals in America, last year's $11.4 billion LBO of SunGard Data Systems, and Koch Industries' takeover of Georgia-Pacific, both gave bondholders an unwelcome surprise. In Europe KPN, a Dutch telecommunications group, sold bonds last week which included a change-of-control clause--a "sine qua non", says one Latin-speaking banker, because of the risk of a buy-out. And last month BAA, operator of London's biggest airports, faced a possible takeover bid just as it was issuing bonds with no change-of-control clause.

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 reports on problems faced by corporate-bond investors in Europe. Compared with government bonds, corporate bonds fared badly in 1999, and this year they have done worse. Corporate-bond investors' most recent problems started in Britain. The government has been running a surplus, and is therefore issuing fewer bonds. Due to this, longer-dated bonds yield has become a lot less than shorter-dated ones.

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.