Corporate debt defaults topped US$280 billion in 2008
Increasing a portfolio’s fixed-income component to between 33% and 50% of the total would make up most of the recent losses
Rating agency forecasts a flood of corporate defaulters in 2009
While government debt yields are at long-term lows, corporate bond yields are at all-time highs
Ecuador’s recent bond default raises the question of why anyone but a financial masochist would throw money at serial defaulters
There are various bargains to be had in the corporate bond universe — and they are not hard to spot
Unusual conditions could lead to big gains if the bond buy-in is well timed
Default rate expected to rise sharply this year
Indices cover Ontario and Quebec bonds
Although corporate bonds are yielding as much as equities in some instances, investors prefer safety of government-issued debt