South Korea Posts Stronger-Than-Expected 1.3% Economic Growth in Q3 
South Korea Inflation Edges Up in November as Food and Service Costs Climb 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Oil Prices Rise as Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Risks Intensify 
U.S. Soybean Shipments to China Gain Momentum as Trade Tensions Ease 
When the Federal Reserve says that they are going to hike rates by as much as 75 basis points, the one thing that should worry every investor is the level of debts gorged by companies since the Great Recession of 2008/09.
The net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for non-financial corporations for High-Yield companies are currently above 4 percent, which is higher than the previous peak in 2001. The ratio for the lower investment grade corporate is currently just below 2.5 percent, which is above the 2008 peak and just shy of that of 2001. For higher investment grade corporates the ratio is just around the 2001 peak at 2 percent. Currently, the dollar denominated debt around the world stands at $52 trillion, which is almost three times the size of the US economy. A 75 basis points increase in the interest rate would lead to an additional burden of additional $390 billion on those debts, which is larger the GDP of Norway.
