GE funding costs rise, but it can wait to access market

General Electric’s bond spreads have widened substantially since last Thursday, when a research report by Harry Markopolos, the Bernie Madoff whistleblower, accused the US conglomerate of major fraud, by hiding $38bn of losses. However, the initial jolt has not turned into a rout, and while some bond investors see cause for concern, others are sceptical of Markopolos’ claims and do not expect the report to spell GE’s doom.