(New York)

Investors need to be worried about the amount of corporate debt out there. Over the last decade, companies have binged on corporate debt to the tune of $14 tn of issuance. Total US corporate debt from nonfinancial companies is now 74% of GDP, its highest ever. And total corporate leverage is now 20% higher than before the Crisis. On the back of this, Goldman Sachs says that so far this year stocks with the strongest balance sheets have been outperforming weaker ones considerably. Here are some companies to look at to protect one’s portfolio from a crunch: Mastercard, Electronic Arts, Equity Commonwealth (a REIT), Graco, and Verizon.

FINSUM: The amount of corporate debt is quite alarming, and it does seem like there will be a reckoning. But when? As long as earnings stay strong, it seems unlikely there will be a big blow up.

(New York)

If you are an RIA looking to sell your firm, the environment is looking stronger and stronger. Terms for deals have improved mightily. For instance, whereas terms from a few years ago were typically 30% paid up front with the rest paid over five years based on client retention, currently 60-80% is being paid up front with the remainder paid off over a year. According to Joe Duran of United Capital, “The market is frothy, and terms for sellers are getting better”.

FINSUM: The market is getting better because there are many more buyers than sellers, which is raising prices and pushing terms in favor of sellers.

(New York)

On paper, the odds of a recession have never looked very high. It is only human instinct that makes many believe that is where we may be headed. However, that is starting to change. Since the Financial Crisis, the odds of a recession in the next 12 months held very low, around 5%. However, they have just jumped to 16% according to a popular recession calculator from BBVA. The last time the figure was higher was during the last recession. The two big factors boosting the odds are the US’ flattening yield curve as well as the threat of a trade war, which is hard for anyone to gauge. According to an economist at BAML, “Our calculations suggest that a major trade war would lead to a significant reduction in growth … A decline in confidence and supply chain disruptions could amplify the trade shock, leading to an outright recession”.

FINSUM: The models seem to be starting to catch up to what many innately know—that the economy and markets have been running hot and storm clouds are on the horizon.

(New York)

Markets got hit with a double whammy yesterday. Escalating trade tensions absolutely nailed equities, but in a move that surprised some, US Treasuries did not gain. For essentially the last 30 years, whenever equity prices took a big hit, Treasury bonds tended to gain on their safe haven value. However, yields on the ten-year actually rose a point yesterday. The reason why appears to be the Fed’s very optimistic position on the US economy, which compels many to believe rates are headed higher, making Treasuries less appealing.

FINSUM: Markets, both stocks and bonds, are caught between a burgeoning trade war and a rate tightening cycle. Doesn’t sound very bullish.

(Washington)

The Chinese stock market is now in a bear market and there is a great deal of pressure on its currency. Last time there was this much pressure, in 2015, the market broke, with stocks plunging and the yuan devaluing by 7% over the year. US stocks even plunged in fear. Now, the situation looks like it might occur again, causing some to call the yuan the next “big short”. The currency is already down almost 1% since Friday, and is in negative territory for the year. A burgeoning trade war with the US is adding pressure.

FINSUM: So the one big support for the yuan is the current strength of the Chinese housing market, which has been strong recently (a big contrast to 2015). That seems like it will keep a blow out from happening.