Leveraged finance default rates increased in 2023 in Europe and the US and will continue to rise in 2024 due to high interest cost burdens and macroeconomic pressure. Both the European and US leveraged finance sector outlooks remain deteriorating.
Fitch forecasts 2024 default rates of 3.5%–4.0% for US leveraged loans, and 5.0%–5.5% for US high-yield bonds. Fitch forecasts default rates for European high-yield bonds and leveraged loans to rise to 4% in 2024 and 2025 from 2.5% and 3% respectively in 2023.
(Past performance is no guarantee of future results.)
Contact: Brad Hamner
brad.hamner@fitchratings.com
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