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Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

New data from LSEG shows that debt capital markets are breaking records. Overall global debt capital markets activity totaled $7.1 trillion during the first half of 2026, up 7% compared to the first half of 2025, marking the strongest opening period for debt capital markets activity since records began in 1980.

The number of new offerings brought to market during the first half totaled nearly 17,000, a 12% decrease compared to a year ago and a three-year low.

Investment grade corporate debt issuance led the pack. Global Investment Grade corporate debt offerings totaled $3.4 trillion during the first half of 2026, up 10% compared to a year ago, marking the strongest opening six-month period for global high-grade corporate debt on record and the second consecutive quarter to surpass $1.5 trillion.

Global high yield issuance is close behind. Global High Yield debt issuance totaled $261.0 billion during the first half of 2026, an increase of 12% compared to first-half 2025 levels.

Activity isn't just happening on the credit side, however. Equity markets are breaking their own records. LSEG data shows that equity capital markets activity totaled $568.8 billion during the first half of 2026, a 72% increase compared to the first half of 2025 and the strongest annual period for global equity capital markets activity in five years.

Global equity capital raising in the second quarter was also up 83% compared to the first qu......................

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