US leveraged loans returns turn negative in October

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The Bloomberg US Leveraged Loan Index (Ticker: LOAN) has returned -0.26% this month through October 21, reducing its year-to-date return to 3.12%. The decline marks the first negative monthly performance since February, when the index posted a -0.86% return.

Secondary market loan prices have come under sustained pressure over the past month. Average prices fell to 95.06 on October 20 from a recent high of 95.86 on September 21, representing an 80-bps decline. Loan prices have now fallen for five consecutive weeks, reversing some of the recovery seen over the summer.

Weakness has been even more pronounced in Europe, where the Bloomberg European Leveraged Loan Index (Ticker: ELOAN) has returned -1.00% in October, bringing its 2026 year-to-date return to 1.90%.

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