US corporate bond, IPO markets heat up as recession fears persist

New York

CORPORATE America appears to be rushing to get the most out of the decade-long bull market in stocks and bonds before a possible recession and election-year stock market volatility slam the IPO and credit windows shut.

About 70 companies have registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to go public, according to estimates from Renaissance Capital, while US$72 billion in investment-grade corporate debt - a figure nearly as large as the total issuance in August - was issued last week, according to data from Dealogic.