Even as the broader market stabilises and some measures of market stress and sentiment, such as Libor or Libor/OIS spreads, finally show signs of improvement, bid-ask spreads and market depth remain far from normal. Selectively, we have seen some improvement in certain areas, as the table   below shows, but the overall picture still remains challenging. 

More specifically, investment grade corporates and financials are continuing to hover around similar levels, which is not illogical given the downbeat news flow and raft of new issuance. Meanwhile, the worst-hit areas of high yield and emerging markets have showed a more meaningful improvement in   liquidity and trading costs, after the month-end equity rally and a marginal improvement   in risk sentiment sparked some sporadic buying interest. 

Still, we are a long way from liquidity returning to more ‘normal’ levels. 

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Lars Salmon

Lars Salmon

Andrea Iannelli

Andrea Iannelli

Investment Director