The Credit Edge by Bloomberg Intelligence

Risky corporate debt markets have room to fall further to reflect the damage of ongoing trade wars, according to BlackRock, the $11.6 trillion money manager. “We’re likely to see spreads widen from here as we see further deterioration in risk assets,” Mitch Garfin, the firm’s co-head of leveraged finance, tells Bloomberg News’ James Crombie and Bloomberg Intelligence’s Robert Schiffman in the latest Credit Edge podcast. “If this uncertainty continues for another quarter, two quarters, three quarters — that could lead to a more significant downturn.” Garfin and Schiffman also discuss private credit relative value, distressed exchanges, technology sector opportunities, portfolio trading and auto sector risk. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Tariff chaos has tossed retailers into a crisis similar to Covid in 2020, leaving them unable to plan ahead, according to AlixPartners, the financial advisory and global consulting firm. “It’s a little crazy and retailers are canceling orders,” Holly Etlin, a partner at the firm and restructuring veteran, tells Bloomberg News’ Reshmi Basu and Bloomberg Intelligence’s Stephen Flynn in the latest Credit Edge podcast. There’s a “real crisis, everybody going nuts,” she added, referring to pricing, inventory and shipping decisions that retailers are trying to make. Etlin also discusses the impact of elevated bankruptcy costs, the outlook for more coercive liability management exercises, how retailers are using asset-based loans as a lifeline and the turnaround of Tailored Brands. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Global market turmoil opens a window for credit investors in companies with too much debt, according to London-based Aptior Capital, which specializes in distressed debt and rescue finance. “All this volatility, it throws up even more opportunities,” founder Rudi Singh tells Bloomberg News’ Giulia Morpurgo and Bloomberg Intelligence’s Tolu Alamutu in the latest Credit Edge podcast. “These are very good businesses and it really has been the old adage of good company, bad cap structure.” Morpurgo and Alamutu also discuss the firm’s target of 20% returns, a shift to Europe by US investors, liability management, real estate and auto sector stress. This episode was recorded on April 2. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Retail investors aren’t yet ready to jump on the private credit bandwagon, according to Janus Henderson. “The skepticism there should be real,” John Kerschner, the firm’s head of US securitized products, talking about exchange-traded funds focused on direct lending. “The underlying isn’t nearly as liquid and hasn’t really been tested throughout a real dislocation credit cycle,” Kerschner tells Bloomberg News’ James Crombie and Bloomberg Intelligence’s Spencer Cutter in the latest Credit Edge podcast. Kerschner and Cutter also discuss the outlook for the US economy and consumers, collateralized loan obligations, relative value in securitized credit and fund flows. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Fundamental and technical pressures on credit markets are growing as trade wars escalate, according to JPMorgan Asset Management. “We just need to be paid a little bit more for the uncertainty risk now in the market,” says Lisa Coleman, the firm’s head of global investment-grade corporate credit. “The technicals from where we were at the beginning of the year have deteriorated,” Coleman, who manages $73 billion in assets, tells Bloomberg News’ James Crombie and Bloomberg Intelligence’s Jody Lurie in the latest Credit Edge podcast. Coleman and Lurie also discuss the earnings outlook for US companies, opportunities in consumer, health care and bank debt and fund flows. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.