Widening Junk Bond Spreads: Bull Market in Peril

Corporate Bond Spreads

I follow this indicator closely, perhaps because of my many years as an institutional fixed income portfolio manager. Corporate bond investors are highly sensitive to weakening economic conditions. This is especially true of junk bond investors. Unlike equity investors who participate directly in the growth of earnings and dividends, the upside for corporate bond investors is limited. Either you receive your coupon and principal payments or you don't. Sure, spreads could narrow, but the probability of receiving your future payments is of paramount importance.

Therefore, junk bond investors are highly focused on quantifying and forecasting downside risk, while equity analysts can be temporarily blinded by the unlimited upside potential of their favorite stocks. As a result, perceived increases in default risk show up in widening junk bond spreads, often before they emerge in equity prices.

Market-based leading indicators typically respond more rapidly than leading economic indicators; junk bond spreads are no exception. The recent increase in junk bond spreads is troubling for the equity markets, especially given the dramatic recent increase in equity market volatility.

Print and Kindle Versions of Brian Johnson's 2nd Book are Available on Amazon (75% 5-Star Reviews)

Exploiting Earnings Volatility: An Innovative New Approach to Evaluating, Optimizing, and Trading Option Strategies to Profit from Earnings Announcements.

Print and Kindle Versions of Brian Johnson's 1st Book are Available on Amazon (79% 5-Star Reviews)

Option Strategy Risk / Return Ratios: A Revolutionary New Approach to Optimizing, Adjusting, and Trading Any Option Income Strategy

Trader Edge Strategy E-Subscription Now Available: 20% ROR

The Trader Edge Asset Allocation Rotational (AAR) Strategy is a conservative, long-only, asset allocation strategy that rotates monthly among five large asset classes. The AAR strategy has generated annual returns of approximately 20% over the combined back and forward test period.  Please use the above link to learn more about the AAR strategy.

Brian Johnson

Copyright 2015 - Trading Insights, LLC - All Rights Reserved.

Share

About Brian Johnson

I have been an investment professional for over 30 years. I worked as a fixed income portfolio manager, personally managing over $13 billion in assets for institutional clients. I was also the President of a financial consulting and software development firm, developing artificial intelligence based forecasting and risk management systems for institutional investment managers. I am now a full-time proprietary trader in options, futures, stocks, and ETFs using both algorithmic and discretionary trading strategies. In addition to my professional investment experience, I designed and taught courses in financial derivatives for both MBA and undergraduate business programs on a part-time basis for a number of years. I have also written four books on options and derivative strategies.
This entry was posted in Article Links - External, Economic Indicators, Market Commentary, Market Timing, Risk Management and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Widening Junk Bond Spreads: Bull Market in Peril

  1. Pingback: Extreme Divergence: Negative Equity Returns Ahead | Trader Edge

  2. Pingback: Junk Bond Meltdown | Trader Edge

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *