US High-Grade Bond Sales Top $200 Billion in Record Yearly Start

Sales of US investment-grade corporate bonds have smashed January’s prior record and exceeded $200 billion for just the sixth month ever, part of a global debt-issuance surge as borrowers take advantage of reduced borrowing premiums.

Syndicate desks came into 2026 anticipating a record start to the year for US high-grade issuance, predicting at least $200 billion for January. The month just exceeded September’s volume on Thursday, to rank in the top five months of all-time.