Lack of fixed income candidates

I’ve been scanning the entire list of exchange-traded debt and asset-backed securities, and the number of securities that are trading at a substantial discount to par you can count with the fingers of one hand.

On the US side, you have subsidiaries of Ambac, AIG, and SLM Corp.

On the Canadian side, you have Clearwater Seafoods, First Uranium, Holloway Lodging REIT, Lanesbourough REIT, Newport Partners, Priszm, Royal Host and Sterling Shoes.

All of these companies have significant issues, so an investment in the debt of any of these issuers involve a substantial amount of risk, including their ability to refinance. Right now is the most debt-friendly time to finance, so one wonders what would happen in the event of a slowdown in the debt issuance market.