Junk Nations Risk Muted Future Debt Sales as Liquidity Dies

  • High-yield debt sales year to date are the lowest since 2016
  • Hawkish Fed could make nations pivot to seek other financing

Shoppers at a local market in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Photographer: Camilo Freedman/Bloomberg
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September, historically the busiest month for high-yield sovereign bond sales, is set to disappoint this year as the risk of aggressive US rate hikes keep junk-rated nations on the sidelines.

Banks including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs expect subdued external debt sales from emerging countries next month, as borrowing costs at a three-year high and poor liquidity deter riskier nations from tapping the market.