Coming off a stellar 2012 that elicited
ample bubble talk
, high-yield bonds and the
ETFs
that hold those issues have continued climbing in 2013.
In broad terms, the U.S. high-yield debt market is up about
two percent year-to-date. Record low yields are not keeping
investors away. On Thursday, yields on U.S. junk bonds touched an
all-time record low 5.626%, down from 5.658% Tuesday,
Barron's reported
.
Some companies, including Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:
THC
), have issued junk bonds this year with coupons below five
percent. In other words, investors are accepting a lower spread
on high-yield debt over Treasuries just to own junk debt. And
some ETFs are benefiting.
Even with today's modest decline, the iShares iBoxx $ High
Yield Corporate Bond Fund (NYSE:
HYG
) is flirting with $95. HYG, home to over $16.3 billion in assets
under management making it the largest junk bond ETF, has not
closed above $95 since June 2008.
Lower yields and reduced spreads over Treasuries apparently
are not keeping investors out of HYG's primary rival, the SPDR
Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (NYSE:
JNK
), either. Barring a disaster before the end of the day, JNK will
likely close above $41 again. The last time the ETF had
consecutive closes above $41 was in September 2008. The
PowerShares Fundamental High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSE:
PHB
) is also trading at its highest levels since September 2008.
The recent surge in high-yield debt prices also indicates
reports of the diminishing assets from these ETFs
were premature at best
. In mid-November, HYG and JNK combined for $28.3 billion in AUM.
At the start of trading today, the number was close to $29.3
billion.
Almost unnoticed, JNK's short duration cousin, the SPDR
Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF (NYSE:
SJNK
) continues to haul in assets at a jaw-dropping clip. SJNK, which
will celebrate its first birthday in mid-March, had less than
$669 million in AUM
on January 9
. That total was up to $774.1 million as of January 23.
Interestingly, just as the rally in U.S. junk bonds has its
share of doubters and detractors, so does the surge in Asian
high-yield debt. There are some signs Asian high-yield debt is
ready to pull back. Earlier this year, investors put in an
overwhelming $45 billion of bids for $1.75 billion of bonds
offered by three junk-rated property firms from China,
Reuters reported
.
That could be perceived as signs of a bubble, but investors
still have an appetite for Asian high-yield debt. The Market
Vectors Emerging Markets High Yield Bond ETF (NYSE:
HYEM
) devotes about 26 percent of its weight to three Asian nations,
with China being the fund's largest country exposure at 15.6
percent. HYEM had just $20 million in assets as of late November,
but entered trading today with
$38.1
million in AUM
. HYEM tracks an index of dollar-denominated emerging markets
corporate debt.
The iShares Emerging Markets High Yield Bond Fund (BATS:
EMHY), which features a mix of public and private sector
high-yield emerging markets bonds, also seen robust inflows. EMHY
had less than $200 million in AUM at the start of
this month
, but that number is now over $222.6 million.
The Philippines and China combine for about 13 percent of
EMHY's weight, but the fund features exposure to seven other
Asian nations. As has been the case with HYG and JNK, folks can
call for a bubble with ETFs like EMHY and HYEM, but that does not
mean the bubble is imminent.
For more on bond ETFs, click
here
.
(c) 2013 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment
advice. All rights reserved.
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