“Distress” in US Corporate Debt Spikes to 2009 Level

Bonds are “distressed” when prices have dropped so low that yields are 1,000 basis points (10 percentage points) above Treasury yields. The “distress ratio” is the number of non-defaulted distressed junk-bond issues divided by the total number of junk-bond issues. Once bonds take the next step and default, they’re pulled out of the “distress ratio” and added to the “default rate.” 

At the lowest end of the junk bond spectrum – rated CCC or lower – the bottom is now falling out. Yields are spiking, having more than doubled from 8% in June 2014 to 16.6% now, the highest since August 2009:

This is what the end of the Great Credit Bubble looks like. It is unraveling at the bottom. The unraveling will spread from there, as it always does when the credit cycle ends. Investors who’d been desperately chasing yield, thinking the Fed had abolished all risks, dove into risky bonds with ludicrously low yields. Now they’re getting bloodied even though the fed funds rate is still at zero!

DYI Comments:  If the Fed's actually increase rates they will have to do a 180 continuing their sub atomic low rates.  If we experience a deflationary smash don't be surprised when the 30 year Treasury trades below 2% and the 10 year Treasury below 1%.  Treasury notes of 5 years or less will go to negative interest rates in that scenario.

Updated Monthly

AGGRESSIVE PORTFOLIO - ACTIVE ALLOCATION -  12/1/15

Active Allocation Bands (excluding cash) 0% to 60%

78% - Cash -Short Term Bond Index - VBIRX

22% -Gold- Precious Metals & Mining - VGPMX

 0% -Lt. Bonds- Long Term Bond Index - VBLTX

 0% -Stocks- Total Stock Market Index - VTSAX

[See Disclaimer]

DYI with our cash horde will easily be sustained any market shakeout.

DYI