Euro Credit Returns Could Be Wiped Out in Just a Few Days

  • Ratings-adjusted credit spreads even closer to record lows
  • Investors could see big losses if spreads move by a whisker
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The voracious appetite for risk in European debt markets is even greater than already-tight credit spreads suggest.

The “Goldilocks” rally -- low volatility, corporate profit growth, cheap capital -- has spurred risky bets to levels not seen since the height of the credit bubble a decade ago. The credit quality of bonds today is more fragile relative to the pre-crisis peak, thanks to relentless monetary stimulus that has triggered a boom in lower-rated investment-grade issuance.