U.S. direct lending loans shrugged off a difficult start to the quarter and followed broader capital markets higher after the administration’s decision to pause the “Liberation Day” tariffs. The announcement led to a rebound in markets, lifting the average fair value of direct lending loans, pushing returns higher.
Analysis & Data, LSTA publications on the private corporate credit market
Geopolitical tensions, a looming trade war, and frothy market levels combined to put investors on edge in February. The S&P 500 dropped 1.3% while U.S. high-yield bond returns fell to 0.67%, from 1.37% the previous month, according to the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Index. In the broadly syndicated loan (BSL) market, total return shrank...
