Twelve high-yield issuers have raised $9.6 billion this week, making it the busiest week since November 2021, according to JPMorgan. This stands in stark contrast to the same period in 2022, when only 25% of a total $81 billion was secured debt, according to Informa Global Markets data. According to rating agency Fitch, junk debt defaults are expected to reach 4.5% of all outstanding U.S. junk debt by the end of 2023, up from 2.8% in July. The extra level of protection and high investment returns are ensuring strong demand for new junk debt. The loans are part of a $9.4 billion debt package - the largest since last year's buyout of Twitter by billionaire Elon Musk.

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Persons: Brendan McDermid, Fitch, Anthony Canale, it's, Brian Gelfand, TCW, Goldman Sachs, Elon Musk, Jefferies, Simon, Matt Tracy, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Hugh Lawson Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, JPMorgan, Informa, Reuters, Covenant, ICE, Morningstar, GTCR, KKR, Jefferies, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S