TOKYO/SHANGHAI/HONG KONG -- Corporate fundraising has come to a screeching halt in a sharp reversal from last year's brisk debt and stock sales as the new coronavirus wreaks havoc on business and sends investors fleeing to safe assets.
Global corporate bond issuances in January and February fell 6% on the year to $364 billion as of Thursday, according to Dealogic. This is in stark contrast to 2019, when a favorable fundraising environment pushed up offerings to a record $2.5 trillion.
