Nearly 91% of investment grade bonds are currently being traded below their face value, indicating a lack of reliability. As interest rates have started to rise, approximately 80% of all traded bonds were issued prior to these hikes, suggesting potential challenges ahead. As these companies refinance their debt, their debt service costs will increase, leading to a decrease in profits and a possible downgrade in their credit ratings. If the Federal Reserve is unable to maintain stable interest rates, the credit quality of companies may deteriorate further.
