FICC Focus

“Everyone we compete with, other CEOs of asset managers, credit asset managers that I talk to, are hyper-focused on making sure that there's not another cockroach running around in their portfolio,” says Steve Ketchum, CEO and founder of Sound Point Capital, when reflecting on the potential positive side effects of recent high-visibility credit events. Ketchum joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s Noel Hebert on this episode of the Credit Crunch podcast to discuss the evolution from modest beginnings to nearly $45 billion in assets under management, synergies across the Sound Point product suite, the role of strategic partnerships, scale and one of their core ethos: wanting to have more ideas than capital. They also reflect on the growing role of private credit and how CLO structures have evolved. The Credit Crunch podcast is part of BI’s FICC Focus series. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Sound Point Disclaimer: Assets under management as of October 1, 2025. This material does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. It is being provided solely for informational and reference purposes only and is not intended to be, and must not be, the basis for any investment decision. Statements represent the subjective views of Sound Point and cannot be independently verified and are subject to change. Past performance is not necessarily indicative

of future results.

Credit is tight, though it’s fared better in 2025 than rates and equities through many crises across the globe — France, tariffs, Fed concerns and Britain’s doubtful fiscal health. In this episode of the Credit Crunch podcast, host Mahesh Bhimalingam, Bloomberg Intelligence’s global head of credit strategy, showcases the Credit Clubs in Milan, Madrid and (upcoming) in London. He discusses these crises and ways to engage in credit with Samuel Sibony, Portfolio Manager at Algebris Investments. They cover the subordinated vs. senior debate in depth with a particular focus on AT1s and corporate hybrids, the tightness of the BBB and BB buckets vs. B value and the robustness of high yield in a rate risk environment, and defaults migrating to private credit. Credit Crunch is part of BI’s FICC Focus series. Listen on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ and ⁠Spotify⁠.

“The uptake among public companies actually is the biggest evolution in the field, because public companies are beginning to recognize the value of this asset class,” says Ranesh Ramanathan, partner and co-head of the Global Capital Solutions Practice for Akin, discussing capital solutions as a financing alternative. Ramanathan joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s Noel Hebert on this episode of the Credit Crunch podcast to talk about building a product suite, and meeting a company where they are at with a tailored solution. The pair also examine the difficulties in building awareness, the broader growth in funding alternatives, potential extensions for Akin’s platform and lessons learned through the great financial crisis.

The Credit Crunch podcast is part of BI’s FICC Focus series.

“It may or may not be good ... or binding precedent, but I think ConvergeOne will actually make the holdout risk worse because the minority lenders will now point to it and say ‘Sorry pal, you can’t jam this down my throat in court, so you’re not jamming it down my throat out of court either,’” says Houlihan Lokey Managing Director Tuck Hardie. He joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s Noel Hebert and Phil Brendel on this episode of the State of Distressed Debt podcast to review the workout landscape, sponsors’ exit strategies and LME trends. Prior to that, Phil and Noel reflect on high yield’s run and current vulnerability. To conclude, BI’s Negisa Balluku discusses the latest developments in First Brands, Spirit Airlines, Lifescan and Incora, while Phil reviews 2025 Prepack Plan Performances and Ardagh Group.

The State of Distressed Debt podcast is part of BI’s FICC Focus series. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Also, a heads up! Negisa and Phil will be at the Beard Group’s 32nd Annual Distressed Investing Conference on Dec. 2-3, 2025. We are excited to hear from the top professionals on the latest machinations in distressed investing.

Secular AI themes, product development in the volatility ecosystem and fault lines in the economy, as well as navigating volatility in digital assets, are among the key discussion points in this edition of the All Options Considered, featuring part II of the recording of the Bloomberg Volatility Forum 2025 held in NYC on Oct. 28. It starts with the fireside chat on digital assets by Randy Little, Partner, 50T Funds, moderated by Stacy-Marie Ishmael, executive editor, Bloomberg News. That’s followed by the final panel of the conference on multi-asset volatility and macro views by Jeff Blazek, Multi-Asset Co-Chief Investment Officer, Neuberger Berman, Nancy Davis, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer, Quadratic Capital, Bob Elliott, Co-Founder, CEO, and CIO, Unlimited Funds, and Matthew Glazier, Co-Head of Global Derivative Trading, Prudential. The panel was hosted by Tanvir Sandhu, Chief Global Derivatives Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence.

The UK fiscal predicament will likely keep sterling under pressure heading into the Nov. 26 budget. The view is starting to look crowded, and recent moves appear stretched, but any upside is set to be contained until the fiscal path clears. For now, sterling bulls might have to settle for some consolidation ahead of the budget and/or renewed dollar weakness, which isn’t in sight yet. In this episode of FX Moment, Bloomberg Intelligence Chief G10 FX Strategist Audrey Childe-Freeman and Laura Cooper, managing director and head of macro credit at Nuveen, discuss UK fiscal- and monetary-policy dynamics and the shaky sterling backdrop. Laura and Audrey also touch on the recent dollar rebound and share their views into 2026.

FX Moment is part of the FICC Focus podcast. Listen to FICC Focus on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This edition of All Options Considered is the recording of part of the Bloomberg Volatility Forum 2025 held in NYC on October 28th. It starts with the keynote speech by BI’s Chief Global Derivatives Strategist Tanvir Sandhu on macro and volatility across markets, followed by the discussion from the first panel on the derivatives market by Benn Eifert, Managing Partner, co-CIO Head of Multi-Strategy at QVR, Diego Parrilla, Chief Investment Officer at Quadriga Asset Managers and Ilya Gofshteyn, Head of Research and Lead Macro Strategist at Capstone Investment Advisors. The panel is hosted by Noel Hebert, Chief US Corporate Credit Strategist & Global Director of FICC Strategy at Bloomberg Intelligence.

“Manufacturing assets, the availability of them, have been chronically undersupplied for decades,” says Teddy Kaplan, CEO of Net Lease for New Mountain Capital, when making the investment case for the sector within a net-lease portfolio. Kaplan joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s Noel Hebert on this episode of the Credit Crunch podcast to discuss sale-leasebacks, the evolution of the marketplace and the synergies of net lease within the New Mountain product set. They also explore on-shoring trends dating back through several administrations, asset-multiple arbitrage, identifying the right markets and tenants, as well as geographic growth opportunities. Kaplan and Hebert conclude with a conversation on managing distress within the portfolio and the emergence of asset-backed funding solutions.

Investor sentiment is improving across commercial real estate as liquidity improves, cash flows stabilize and capitalization rates compress. Jimmy Hinton, chief revenue officer for US capital markets at Newmark Group, joins BI chief fixed income strategist, Damian Sassower, to discuss his firm’s approach to price discovery, leverage and deal flow. Hinton and Sassower discuss the role of leasing velocity, lending standards, operating expenses, concessions and net absorption when identifying opportunities across the industrial, retail, office, multifamily, life sciences and hospitality sectors.

I don’t think that the next Fed chair does much to change my expectations for the terminal rate this cycle, says Stuart Paul, US & Canada Economist for Bloomberg Economics. Paul is joined by BI chief US rates strategist Ira Jersey and senior US & Canada rates-strategy associate Will Hoffman to discuss takeaways from the recent Federal Reserve, and Bank of Canada meetings. The trio discuss the outlook for monetary policy and yields on both sides of the border. They also touch on the upcoming release of the Canadian federal budget, the end of the Federal Reserve’s asset runoff program and what comes next for balance sheet policy, in addition to the impact of political influence on the path of monetary policy.
The Macro Matters podcast is part of BI’s FICC Focus series.