- August's dip in the junk bond default rate looks like just a temporary blip in trend as $3.8B in defaults have already been announced this month (most by energy companies).
- Fitch's Eric Rosenthal thinks energy defaults could come to 16-18% by year-end - and that's assuming oil doesn't fall back into the low-$40s or $30s. Crude is down 2.7% today to $45.04 per barrel.
- ETFs: HYG, JNK, HIX, DHY, HYLD, PHT, EAD, HYT, JQC, CIK, DSU, HHY, SJB, NHS, ACP, PHF, FHY