Moody's Sees Junk Defaults Reaching Highest Since 2009
- Energy, mining sectors bear brunt of pain on commodities rout
- `Credit cycle is turning' with investor caution on the rise
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Global junk-bond defaults will rise to the highest level in seven years in 2016 as a prolonged downturn in commodity prices continues to wreak havoc on company profits and balance sheets, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
The ratings company forecasts that the speculative-grade default rate will reach 4 percent this year, up from 3.5 percent in 2015 and the highest level since 2009. The default rate for all of Moody’s-rated corporate issuers is estimated to rise to 2.1 percent, also a post-financial crisis high, from 1.7 percent last year.