Quality bonds emerge as market turbulence settles

Prices fell 1.6% in 2015.

After a 15 months of market turbulence, Singapore-based online trading platform iFast says that losses have created some opportunities.

A report by Bloomberg highlighted that Singapore’s market suffered its first defaults since 2009 with Indonesian phone retailer PT Trikomsel Oke failing to repay in November and fishery group Pacific Andes Resources Development Ltd. in January.

Risks escalated on oil and shipping-related debt as drillers canceled rig orders from local yards and freight rates remained in doldrums.

Amid the increased credit risks are attractive coupons that will drive returns, said Terence Lin, assistant director of bonds and portfolio management at iFast.

Read the full report here.