
A Look at Corporate Leverage
Companies in developed markets have been criticized in the past for taking on too much leverage. While it is true that the net debt to EBITDA ratios have increased and as well as the share of companies earning sub-investment grades from credit-rating agencies. Yet credit rating downgrades have not been significantly widespread; much of the change can be attributed to a shift in newly rated corporate debt. Analysis on debt shows that most of the now low-rated corporate debt ei

Latin American Growth Environment
A look at the growth in Latin America reveals slower and relatively volatile attributes, even when adjusted for its’ emerging market classification. GDP growth in Latin America equaled 2.8 percent on average between 2000 and 2016. Peru has been the quickest growing Latin averaging 5.2 percent per year. Regional growth’s volatility has been attributed to commodity booms of oil, mineral, and some agricultural products. Latin America derives much of its GDP from the expansion of

US Corporate High Yield Credit
Shortly after US Corporate High Yield credit spreads reached their tightest levels, investors are now worried that the credit cycle is turning, evident in last year’s abrupt about- face in spreads. Investors are aware that the economy remains the most important driver of defaults but appear to underestimate forecasts of US GDP growth remaining above trend. Though a partially inverted yield curve is raising grave concerns, other leading indicators of recession such as the Conf

Emerging Market Dollar Debt
Emerging market dollar debt carries no immunity to global risk aversion gripping markets in late 2018. While Argentina’s near sovereign collapse received a significant amount of media attention, the weakness was broad-based, with nearly all major constituents in the red. All told, last year’s 4.3% loss represented Emerging market dollar debts first decline since 2013 (when measured annually). Even prior to October, sell-offs in EMs since the currencies turbulence began in Apr