REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationLONDON, July 28 (Reuters) - Corporate credit quality is weaker than financial markets currently price in, while defaults are likely to pick up in the second half of the year, a report by Janus Henderson Investors said on Friday.
Tighter lending standards, higher refinancing costs and a slowing economy would take their toll on the credit quality of corporates, the report said.
This suggests that defaults could pick up in the second half, even if the pace of defaults is slower than in previous cycles, it added.
Additionally, a recent trend of small businesses being forced to file for bankruptcy is likely to spread more broadly into capital markets, Janus Henderson noted.
"As recession fears scaled back, markets have been pricing in a more muted credit default cycle.
Persons:
Dado Ruvic, Janus Henderson, Jim Cielinski, Chiara Elisei, Dhara Ranasinghe, Conor Humphries
Organizations:
REUTERS, Janus Henderson Investors, P Global, U.S, Casino, Thomson
Locations:
industrials