Newsmakers
Pension Funds Appear Unfazed by Potential US Default
They have ample liquid assets—and show little sense of fear.
Tag: Standard & Poor’s
News
Why Are Cash-Flush Big Tech Firms Issuing Bonds?
Answer: Rates are low, and so are the firms’ debt ratios.
Market Moves
Not So Junky: Speculative Bond Yields Near 4%
After dire predictions of disaster for high-yield paper, defaults never hit the painful levels forecast last spring.
Market Drilldown
During the Great Financial Crisis, Overly Optimistic Ratings Helped Kill the Market. Could It Be Happening Again?
An academic report found a major difference between ratings for tranches and their underlying securities that could indicate CLOs are riskier than investors think.
Market Drilldown
Big BBB Downgrade Damage Ahead? Maybe Not
Why the anxiety about this overstuffed bond category may be overdone.
Why Small Caps Romped in May, Leaving Behind Large Stocks
For a change, the small-stock S&P 600 outpaced its large-cap sibling, with healthcare a big plus.