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Corporate bond issuance has been above normal thus far this week, one of a number of signs indicating that some semblance of normalcy has returned to the credit markets.
This year's pipeline of expected issuance is larger than normal because of the large amount of bridge loans that were deployed during the surge in announcements of mergers and acquisitions. Hence, these positive signs could easily evaporate if issuers try to tap the markets and find too few takers. Moreover, any bond issuance must be put in the context of evaporating sources of funding elsewhere. From Monday through yesterday, the total amount of corporate bond issuance was roughly $14.4 billion, according to Bloomberg data, roughly $2 billion above normal for a three-day period compared with the rest of the year. Today's calendar is again busy, with issuance probably running as high as $5 billion or more.
Tony Crescenzi is the chief bond market strategist at Miller Tabak + Co., LLC, and advises many of the nation's top institutional investors on issues related to the bond market, the economy and other macro-related issues. At the request of the Federal Reserve, Crescenzi is a regular participant in the board's Livingston Survey of economic forecasters. He is also the author of the revised investment classic, The Money Market, first published in 1978 by Marcia Stigum, and The Strategic Bond Investor. At the time of publication, Crescenzi or Miller Tabak had no positions in the securities mentioned in this column, although holdings can change at any time. Under no circumstances does the information in this column represent a recommendation to buy or sell stocks. Crescenzi also is the founder of Bondtalk.com, a popular Web site covering the bond market and the economy. Crescenzi appreciates your feedback; click here to send him an email. Brokerage Partners
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