Search results for

Bob Smith, portfolio manager with Sage Advisory Services, says that, as the economy improves, he will rotate 10% of the portfolio he manages, or $200 million, from triple-A and double-A rated corporates into lower-rated corporate names rated either triple-B or single-A, keeping the overall corporate exposure neutral. The thinking behind this move is increasing corporate cash flows will lead to bond price recovery in his targeted sectors. He declined comment as to what a possible trigger would be for the move.

Bank Leumi USA has been borrowing in the repurchase market and selling commercial paper to add $200 million to its portfolio. The trade is primarily in mortgage-backed securities such as 6.5% 15-year mortgages, five-year balloon mortgages, well-structured planned amortization class collateralized mortgage obligations and U.S. government securities. Robert Giordano, who oversees some $2.2 billion in taxable fixed income for the U.S. subsidiary of the Israeli bank, says the bank is looking to take advantage of the steep yield curve in the two- to three-year area to pick up additional yield when shorter-term rates are low. While most of the $200 million program was complete as of last Monday, Giordano was still watching the direction of the two-year Treasury bond before investing the last $37 million. With two-year Treasuries yielding 3.35% last Monday, Giordano said an additional two to three basis points of tightening would convince him to invest the remaining funds, which would consist of $20 million in MBS and $17 million in U.S. government securities.

J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management has been building a moderately short duration position in U.S. Treasuries in its $30 billion global fixed-income portfolio and will take profits once 10-year U.S. Treasury yields reach 5.6-5.7%. Last Tuesday, the yield on the 10-year was 5.2%. London-based Jonathan Griggs, head of macro research for global fixed-income, says the portfolio's U.S. Treasury duration is now at about 0.5 years, versus a neutral duration earlier in the year. He expects this trade to run for at least three more months. For those accounts that are run based on ex-U.S. dollar benchmarks, the firm also has been running a short duration strategy at a quarter to a half year. Griggs says the firm has been focusing on buying German and French government bonds to implement the strategy. About 5% of the portfolio has been allocated to European bonds.

In an unusual twist on the debate over analyst independence, Jamie Dimon, chairman and ceo of BANK ONE, surprised analysts last week by scolding them for being excessive about earning forecasts for next year. Surprising, because he was not talking about some dot.com or another Enron, but his own bank. According to the Financial Times he said in a conference call last week, "In general, you would have to see absolute blue skies to get those very high numbers." He added, "I would caution that when you fly that high, you can get burned."

RBS Financial Markets, the capital markets division of the Royal Bank of Scotland, has hired Stewart Booth to fill the newly created position of head of credit trading. Booth joins from J.P. Morgan Securities and will be responsible for the investment-grade, high-yield and credit derivatives trading businesses, a RBS spokeswoman said. He will report to Symon Drake-Brockman, global head of capital markets, who previously had been covering credit trading as part of his overall duties. It could not be determined what his previous duties had been at J.P. Morgan. Calls to a J.P. Morgan spokeswoman seeking the name of Booth's replacement were not returned.

Société Générale set fees and tiers for the $90 million bank deal for the National Basketball Association's Memphis Grizzlies, launched in Memphis on April 11. For the pro rata portion, a $20 million commitment receives 3/4% and a $10 million commitment receives a 1/2% fee. SG is also accepting a limited amount of term loan commitments at 1/4%. The Grizzlies loan consists of a $40 million revolver and a $50 million term loan.

SunTrust Bank will launch syndication on May 2 for a $450 million refinancing for Dollar General, an operator of neighborhood stores across the U.S. The facility is split between a $300 million, three-year revolver and a $150 million, 364-day tranche. The new lines refinance existing bank facilities and maturing debt incurred from synthetic leases, said a banker.

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Genuity from Baa2 to Ba1 following indications that Verizon Communications, fearing equity dilution, is less likely to recapture the company. The Federal Communications Commission required GTE to give up all but 10% of its Genuity ownership when it merged with Bell Atlantic in 2000 to create Verizon. The newly formed company was given the option to increase its ownership once it opened up its local networks to competition. Verizon expects to finish this task by the end of this year, but its management has stated that it would not reintegrate the company unless Genuity's financial position improves, explained Dennis Saputo, Moody's analyst. Genuity would warrant a deep-junk rating of B3 or lower standing alone, said Saputo, pointing to its significant operating losses and developmental stage.

Chris Rekow, an investment-grade telecom trader, has left Banc of America Securities in Charlotte to join UBS Warburg in Stamford, Conn. as a v.p. He will back up Mike Morris, the lead telecom trader on the desk, and report to Mike Meyer, head of investment-grade trading at UBSW, says a firm official. The official says the hire is part of an effort to beef up the trading desk. Over the last three months, the firm hired Eric Jayaweera andPaul Savini, a retail trader who came up through UBSW's training program. Meyer and Rekow could not be reached.

U.S. Xpress Enterprises opted for an asset-based loan from Fleet Capital after the terrorist attacks in September forced the company to abandon a SunTrust Bank-led term loan. Last fall the truckload carrier was looking for a $150 million term loan "B" and a $75 million revolver, but after Sept. 11 capital dried up, explained Ryan Rogers, director of investor relations for U.S. Xpress. Instead U.S. Xpress used the $100 million five-year senior secured loan and an equipment financing deal to refinance existing debt, he said.

Deutsche Bank has given the role of heading up investment-grade sales to Helen Doyle, a saleswoman on the desk, replacing former chief Tony Britton, according to a member of the firm's sales team. Doyle confirms that she now heads the group, but declined comment on why she replaced Britton. Brian Reid, newly promoted head of all credit sales, did not return calls. Britton was on vacation and could not be reached.