In Leveraged Loans, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like 2008

The leveraged loan market and junk bond market together, at $2.7 trillion, are near the size of the $3 trillion subprime mortgage market at its peak. Leveraged loans, like subprime loans, also have adjustable rates, which can be problematic for borrowers when rates rise as they did leading up to the financial crisis and are rising now on the short end.

In addition, writes Zandi, the most aggressive lending in the leveraged loan market is by private lenders outside the banking system and regulatory oversight, much like the most egregious subprime lenders before the financial crisis; and demand is so strong for these loans that lenders are easing their underwriting standards, much like they did just before the financial crisis blew up.

A net 15% of respondents to the Federal Reserve's survey of senior loan officers at commercial banks say they have lowered their standards on commercial and industrial loans to large and medium-size customers this quarter. The last time loan officers eased standards as aggressively was in the mid-2000s, before the financial crisis. Covenants on leveraged loans and junk bond issues have deteriorated.

And financial markets now — like then — seem unconcerned about the accelerating growth in adjustable rate leverage. "Global investors appear sanguine," writes Zandi, citing narrow spreads in the CLO and junk bond markets, but "regulators are undoubtedly nervous."

In the meantime, growth remains strong and U.S. GDP is on track to reach 3% this year, unemployment continues to fall and is poised to decline into the "low threes" from 3.9% in July,  and wage growth is accelerating, putting price pressures on businesses.

At the same time, stock, bond and real estate markets are almost certainly overvalued with high multiples, think credit spreads and low vacancy rates, setting the Federal Reserve up to raise rates more to cool off the economy, writes Zandi.