US corporate bond spreads hit widest in about 6 months on recession fears

BY Reuters | CORPORATE | 03/12/25 09:10 AM EDT

By Matt Tracy

March 12 (Reuters) - The yield spreads between corporate bonds and U.S. Treasuries widened late on Tuesday to their widest level since September, pointing to mounting investor worries about recession and a global trade war.

U.S. investment-grade bond spreads hit 94 basis points on Tuesday, their widest level since Sept. 18, according to the ICE BofA Corporate Index. Junk bond spreads widened to 322 bps, also their widest since Sept. 18, according to the ICE BofA High Yield Bond Index. (Reporting by Matt Tracy; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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