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The default rate for loans in Fitch’s U.S. Leveraged Loan Universe was 3.3% at the end of 2023, in line with our forecast of 3.0%-3.5% and up from just 1.6% the previous year. The default rate for BSL companies in the index was 3.1%, up from 1.6% in 2022, while the same rate for large middle market (LMM) companies was 5.6%, up from 1.4% yoy.
The 5.6% recorded for the LMM segment was the highest rate that Fitch has recorded since we started tracking in 2007, while the BSL figure was only slightly above long-term averages. The LMM part of Fitch’s Leveraged Loan Universe consists largely of syndicated loans.
(Past performance is no guarantee of future results.)
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The Bloomberg US Leveraged Loan Index (Ticker: LOAN) has returned -0.26% this month through October 21, reducing its year-to-date return…
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