Junk-Debt Market Rocked as Cautious Creditors Stymie New Deals

Junk-bond investors, who had been financing the riskiest U.S. companies in a bid to boost returns, are asking for a time-out amid a deepening rout in commodities.

Energy-services providers Exterran Holdings Inc. and leather-chemicals company Stahl scrapped plans to raise debt after failing to gather enough investor support. Lenders are extracting concessions from hospital owner Prime Healthcare Services Inc. and Builders FirstSource Inc. as yields on speculative-grade debt climb to a seven-month high.