The duration-sensitive Barclays Agg posted its third positive return of the year in June as long-term interest rates declined slightly.

Volatility roared back in June. High yield bonds lost -6.8%, their worst month of 2022, while loans were down -2.16%. This marked the first back-to-back monthly declines of greater than 2% for loans since 2008.

Driven by stronger than expected economic data in June, credit markets turned higher as senior secured loans returned 2.26% while high yield bonds returned 1.63%.

High yield bonds and senior secured loans gain in June. Yield curve flattens on rising rate expectations.

Leveraged credit rebounds in June | HY Bonds benefit from repriced rate expectations

The recovery in markets continued in June, but at a slower pace amid concerns over rising COVID cases. HY Bonds and Senior Secured Loans still ended the month up, returning 0.97% and 1.14%, respectively, capping off the best quarter for each market since Q3 2009. Interest rates spiked early in the month before declining slightly, and the duration-sensitive Barclays Agg returned 0.63%.

Interest rate volatility continued to weigh on markets for much of the month.

Sharply higher interest rates, geopolitical tensions, a volatile commodities complex, inflation, and the ultimate course of the Fed’s tightening cycle have caused volatility for much of the quarter as markets have been forced to quickly recalibrate expectations given these rapidly evolving situations.

Amid the emergence of significant regional and global bank stress, fixed income volatility spiked in March as the MOVE Index rose to levels last seen in 2008.

Benefiting from their floating rate coupon and position at the top of the capital structure, senior secured loan prices remained relatively steady in the face of rising short-end U.S. Treasury yields and a decline in U.S. equity prices.