European bonds and credit default swaps mirrored gyrating stock markets on Tuesday, recovering from early falls as US shares opened firmly but then retracing their steps as equities across the Atlantic fell.
By 1504 GMT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood 0.3 percent lower, while in Europe shares fell to seven-month lows, with the FTSEurofirst 300 shedding 2.5 percent. Slightly stronger than expected core US inflation data for May reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates in June.
The iTraxx Crossover index, containing mainly "junk"-rated credits, widened 11 basis points to be bid at 277 basis points, an index trader said, while the iTraxx Europe index of 125 key investment-grade default swaps widened about 1 basis point to 34 basis points.
"We're a bit weaker, with what stocks have done over the past 12 hours," a telecoms trader said. Credit default swaps on telecoms companies rose about 1 basis point, while spreads on telecoms bonds rose as much as 4 basis points, he added.
Corporate hybrid bonds, which fluctuate in value more than standard bonds because they are more risky, fell across the board, a third trader said. "We had a bit of a pullback when the Dow opened sharply up, but now offers (to sell) are coming back and bids (to buy) are fading again," he said.
Solvay's hybrid bond, the newest addition to the sector, widened 6 basis points, to be bid at 236 basis points over benchmark government debt, while the spread on Suedzucker's hybrid rose about 10 basis points to 264 basis points.
The FTSE Euro Corporate Bond Index showed investment-grade corporate bonds in euros yielding an average 52.3 basis points more than similarly-dated government bonds at 1509 GMT, 0.7 basis points more on the day.
Holders of GUS's 2013 sterling bonds have failed to approve changes to the bonds' terms prompted by GUS's planned demerger, the British retailer and financial services company said.
But holders of its 2007 euro bonds and 2009 sterling bonds approved the changes, which will leave those bonds with credit-checking unit Experian, and insert change-of-control clauses protecting investors from a take-over.
Analysts at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein said the result amounted to an "own goal" for trading accounts holding the 2013 bond, which will also be left with Experian, and warned the spat could end in court.
Those investors had bet on GUS buying the bonds back at a premium but may now see them left outstanding with no protection against a debt-heavy leveraged buyout (LBO). GUS has been the subject of take-over speculation as recently as this week.
The spread on GUS's 350 million pounds 5.625 percent 2013 notes widened some 10 to 15 basis points, to be bid at 100 basis points over equivalent UK government gilts, another trader said.
In the primary market, Finnish utility Fortum sold a 10-year, 750 million euro bond, in its first euro bond sale since November 2003. The bond was priced to yield 50 basis points over mid-swaps, Barclays Capital, BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank said, in line with earlier guidance.
A utilities trader said the bond tightened 2 basis points in early trading, to be bid at 48 basis points over mid-swaps. "It (the bond) is not doing too badly," he said. "It was priced very, very cheaply, but cash bonds have to be at the moment in this weak market."
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