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

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

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%.

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.

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

The recovery in markets continued in July as optimism surrounding reopening and further stimulus measures outweighed fears of rising cases. HY Bonds and Senior Secured Loans returned 4.78% and 1.96%, respectively. Interest rates fell steadily throughout the month, boosting the duration-sensitive Barclays Agg, which returned 1.25%.

Leveraged credit gains in July | Higher-rated credit continues to outperform

HY Bonds and Senior Secured Loans outperformed the Barclays Agg as retail inflows supported the leveraged credit markets on the back of strong monthly returns for U.S. equities.

Credit markets experienced continued positive momentum in July amid positive economic data, moderating inflation and better-than-expected Q2 earnings reports.

There was a remarkable rally last month as second quarter earnings results were better than feared and markets appear unconvinced that the Fed will be able to hike rates as aggressively going forward, especially given signs of a slowing economy.