Credit default swap index spikes on slow growth fears

25 August 2015

 

The index representing a basket of credit default swaps, iTraxx (series 23), has jumped to 115.3, a level not seen since October 2013. This period was the aftermath of the so-called ‘taper tantrum’ when bond markets were worried about the US Fed raising withdrawing its monetary stimulus by winding back its US$85bn a month bond buying programme. Credit default swaps are essentially insurance contracts where buyers are paid out if...

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