Market Review and Outlook 1Q21 - Leveraged Finance
As rates and inflationary expectations rose, investors in search of higher yields returned to the leveraged loan market in the first quarter. That allowed us to explore a number of new relative value opportunities. We also held on to the names we felt had the liquidity to ride through the pandemic lockdown, and we’re starting to see that benefit now.
In the high yield market, the three key dynamics were the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Treasury sell-off, and a record increase in supply. The ICE BofA US High Yield Index had a 0.81% return. The Index ended the quarter with a yield of 4.36%. The BB index ended with a yield of 2.58%. The single-B index ended at 3.92%, and CCCs tightened to 6.3%.