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The article reports that highly rated companies are finding that it is less expensive to sell new debt in the corporate bond market than before the credit crisis. Such companies have had to offer large risk premiums on their debt to attract investors, but the U.S. Federal Reserve's two rate reductions and the large drop in Treasury yields have offset the increase in risk premiums. Yields on investment-grade corporate date average 5.7% compared to 6.1% before the onset of the credit crunch.

The article reports on the plan of Fitch Ratings to review the capital cushion of bond issuers to make sure their AAA ratings are justified. According to the ratings firm, the problem with collaterized debt obligations is deeper and broader than it had assumed in September 2007. Some municipal-bond participants suggested that the muni market calendar may offer a test for spreads on bond issuers.

The article reports that underwriters sold $6 billion of loans for Energy Future Holdings on October 31, 2007. Report says the loans were sold at par, or 100 cents on the dollar, which is slightly higher than the price fetched on Energy Future loans. The debt is also part of a financing package for the company's buyout on behalf of a group of investors led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and TPG.

The article reports that investors became more cautious about the prospects of bond insurers and financial institutions, driven by evidence that the subprime mortgage problems in the U.S. are worsening. Reports about the worsening of the subprime mortgage business pushed the riskiest, BBB-minus portion of the Asset Backed Securities (ABX) index based on mortgages made in the second half of 2006 to record lows.

This article reports that investors have shifted to the safety of the U.S. government bond market on October 24, 2007 following the loss posted by Merrill Lynch and the subsequent ratings actions. There are expectations among investors that the Federal Reserve will cut rates to protect the economy from the recent market turmoil. Information regarding the gains posted by there-month Treasury bills and two-year notes is given. Comments from William O'Donnell, rates strategist at UBS, are included.

The article reports on the decrease in the credit ratings of home builders in the U.S. Moody's Investors Service rated the cost of protecting debt issued by home builders as speculative or junk. It claims that home builders Centex Corp., D.R. Horton, Lennar Corp. and Pulte Homes traded five levels lower, based on their credit default swaps and creditworthiness.

The article reports on the impact of the increased employment rate in the U.S. in September 2007 on treasury prices. The two year notes had posted a yield of 4.078 percent. It mentions that the 10-year benchmark note ended down 30/32 point. The improved employment rate had a positive effect on the corporate bond markets.

The article reports that a shrinking commercial-paper market and the interest rate-cut of the U.S. Federal Reserve helped to unleash pent-up demand from companies aiming to increase funds in the investment-grade corporate bond market. It says that the new U.S. high-grade corporate debt amounted to more than $77 billion. Dominick DeAlto, senior portfolio manager at Robeco Weiss, Peck & Greer, states that the companies must drum up funds for aggressive moves such as share buybacks which raises supply of new bonds.

The article discusses financial market results for December 14, 2010. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 47.98 points to finish at its highest level since September 8, 2008. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 2.81 points, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index closed 1.13 points higher on the day. The yield on ten-year U.S. Treasury notes hit a seven-month high.

The article reports that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun querying agencies that issue Build America Bonds (BABs), and in several instances has begun audits. BABs are municipal bonds that enjoy a subsidy from the U.S. government, and the IRS is concerned that improper pricing could boost subsidies owed by the federal government.

The article reports that Altria Group Inc. may put off until a later date its announced acquisition of UST Inc. Citing a difficult environment for fund raising, creditors Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. have requested that the firm wait until 2009. Leveraged loans of the type Altria would use to finance its purchase have fallen 8.4% during 2008.

This section offers financial news briefs, including the move by Deutsche Postbank AG to tender 22% of their shares, the search by Orix Corp. for a foreign acquisition and a 74% decline in the net profit of National Bank of Greece SA.

This section offers financial news briefs as of November 2010 including the failure of three more U.S. banks, California's completion of the second stage of a debt offering worth 14 billion U.S. dollars and plans by banking analyst Meredith Whitney to establish her own credit rating firm.

The article reports that credit markets in the U.S. performed well in 2009, increasing yields across indexes.

The article focuses on the tightening of risk premiums on all manner of debt as part of the plan by the U.S. federal government to tackle toxic assets on bank balance sheets. Credit markets are said to have joined the stock markets in supporting the plan. It is said that the gain in short-term bank debt called subordinated debt is a sign of anticipation among investors that the plan would reinforce the banking sectors. Improvements have been shown by the market for bonds supported by commercial real-estate loans.

The article reports that U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary solutions has driven down borrowing costs for Asian companies. South Korean steelmaker Posco lowered its yield guidance for a five-year global bond offering because it had attracted strong investor demand after the news on Federal Reserve's action prompted a sharp fall in U.S. Treasury yields. Companies that will hit the bond market are Hana Financial Group Inc., Industrial Bank of Korea and Korea Railway Corp.

The article reports on the $9 billion funds raised by Bank of America (BofA) in the bond market on December 1, 2008. BofA is the fourth major bank to take advantage of a government guarantee in the U.S. Also mentioned is the plan of Citigroup to sell a benchmark-size offering on December 2 while Wells Fargo will enter the market later in the week. The bond offering of BofA consists of fixed-rate notes and floating-rate notes, among others.

The article reports on the bond market where two-year Treasury notes gained as of end of trading on June 23, 2008. Analysts attributed this result to the lackluster performance of the stock market, decreasing consumer confidence and declining housing prices in the U.S. The impact of the interest-rate futures market in Treasurys trading is given.

The article reports that U.S. government securities or treasuries in all maturities realized gains during the week ending May 9, 2008. This developed as the stock markets declined, crude oil prices continued to climb, and renewed concerns over credit markets. The positive movement ended in the afternoon of May 9 as investors took their profits before the weekend. The end-yield of the benchmark 10-year Treasury note on May 9, 2008 was 3.765%, a decline from its 3.803% yield on May 8, 2008.

The article reports on a decline in longer-term Treasury prices amid mortgage-related selling and speculation of more to come in the U.S. According to the article, the 30-year Treasury fell 2 8/32 points to 95 17/32, with its yield jumping to 4.653%. Meanwhile, the benchmark 10-year note declined 1 1/32 to 97 12/32 to yield 3.818%, up from 3.692%. Carl Lantz, strategist at Credit Suisse, says that mortgage-bond investors were forced to sell Treasury notes as the 10-year yield increased above 3.70%.

The article discusses rising yields for both U.S. government bonds and municipal bonds in the aftermath of an agreement between U.S. President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans on tax legislation. That pact is seen as promoting economic growth and adding to the budget deficit, developments that could push interest rates higher.

The article reports that U.S. president George W. Bush signed into law a $700 billion package aimed at bailing out the financial industry. Bush's action came amid continued signs of financial distress. The three-month LIBOR rate rose to 4.33%, and the Labor Department reported that the U.S. economy lost 159,000 jobs in September, 2008.

The article focuses on a December 2007 interest rate cut in the U.S. that was initiated by the U.S. Federal Reserve, and on the positive impact it has had on short term lending rates in the country. A discussion of factors, including concerns over the mortgage industry and the U.S. economy, which may limit the positive impact of the interest rate cut, is presented.

This section offers news briefs on corporations as of October 6, 2010, including the decision of Domino's Pizza to increase the prices of its two specialty pizzas to 7.99 dollars each, the increase in same-store sales of Walgreen Co. in September by 0.4% and the plan of American Electric Power Co. to purchase solar energy from Turning Point Solar LLC.

The article reports that problems in U.S. credit markets are reducing the availability of student loans. Demand among investors for securities backed by such loans has greatly diminished, making lenders less willing to issue new loans. A state agency in Michigan announced that it would stop lending to students.

The article reports on the withdrawal of investors from the leveraged-loan market in the U.S. It notes that investors have added the market to the assets that they have relinquished amid the crisis in the credit market. UBS Securities and Wachovia Securities have circulated $264.9 million and $446 million worth of loans, respectively, to be sold. It mentions that a sale of loans tends to be an option for collateralized loan obligations (CLO) managers or swap dealers as the value of loans declines.