There’s Nothing Like Disappointment to Keep Debt Markets Booming

Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon
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If not for a steady stream of disappointing economic news, what would corporate-bond investors do?

The fact that company debt has rallied in recent months isn’t so much a reflection of optimism on growth and profits than it is a bet the spate of underwhelming data will keep the Federal Reserve from declaring happy hour over by raising interest rates for the first time since 2006.