European credit markets no longer makes any sense
The European Central Bank’s extended quantitative easing programme attracted criticism from the start as many analysts believed such a QE bazooka would distort bond markets. It has become apparent over the past few weeks that this is exactly what is happening.
ECB QE means that 47% of the European area government bond market trades at a negative yield and nearly 25% of the European corporate investment grade credit market trades at a negative yield thanks to the ECB’s Corporate Sector Purchase Programme.
These negative yields are playing havoc with fixed income investors.
[drizzle]
The available pool of European government bonds is expected to shrink by close to €600 billion this year, net of redemptions, coupons,...

