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Determinants of bond spreads: evidence from credit derivatives of Australian firms

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  • Tristan Darwin
  • Sirimon Treepongkaruna
  • Robert Faff

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of credit spreads (levels and changes) via credit derivatives, using an Australian sample. We incorporate a number of different relationships to assess the contributions of various market-wide and firm-specific factors in determining levels, and changes in credit spreads, of corporate bonds. Using over-the-counter credit default swap (CDS) premium data as a proxy for the default risk of the entity, we find that both CDS and liquidity are priced into credit spreads, with liquidity explaining more credit spreads than credit risk (proxied using CDS premia) itself. We also find that a number of firm-specific and market-wide variables, namely, firm leverage, market-to-book ratio, market value, volatility, liquidity, the spot rate, the slope of the yield curve, the time to maturity of the underlying bond and the level and return on the All Ordinaries Index, are in many cases significant determinants of credit spreads. Finally, in additional robustness testing, a potential sample selection bias is accommodated via the Heckman ((1979) Sample selection bias as a specification error. Econometrica 47: 153–162) procedure.

Suggested Citation

  • Tristan Darwin & Sirimon Treepongkaruna & Robert Faff, 2012. "Determinants of bond spreads: evidence from credit derivatives of Australian firms," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 37(1), pages 29-46, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:37:y:2012:i:1:p:29-46
    DOI: 10.1177/0312896211416137
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kelvin Jui Keng Tan & Jia Min Lee & Robert W. Faff & Kathy Walsh, 2016. "Short-selling pressure and last-resort debt finance: evidence from 144A high-yield risk-adjusted debt," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 56(4), pages 1149-1185, December.
    2. Robert J. Bianchi & Michael E. Drew & Eduardo Roca & Timothy Whittaker, 2017. "Risk factors in Australian bond returns," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(2), pages 373-400, June.
    3. Robert W Faff & Stephen Gray & Kelvin Jui Keng Tan, 2016. "A contemporary view of corporate finance theory, empirical evidence and practice," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 41(4), pages 662-686, November.
    4. Roshanthi Dias, 2017. "The role of managerial risk-taking in the ‘rise and fall’ of the CDS market," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57, pages 117-145, April.

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