US default probability at lowest since January

3:39 PM UTC
Updated ago
The U.S. Capitol's dome is reflected in a puddle, in the midst of an ongoing legislative effort to raise the United States' debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default, in Washington, U.S. May 30, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
NEW YORK, May 31 (Reuters) - The probability of a U.S. default has declined to its lowest since January, according to MSCI estimates, as a debt ceiling deal gets closer to the finish line.
The one-year market implied probability of a default as of market close on May 30 stood at 1.3%, the lowest level since January, Andy Sparks, Head of Portfolio Management Research at MSCI, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The default probability - calculated using credit default spreads from S&P Global Market Intelligence - peaked at 4.3% on May 11.
"This probability plunged over the past two days as the market became more convinced that a legislative solution to the debt ceiling crisis is at hand," Sparks said.
The U.S. House of Representatives is due to vote on Wednesday on a bill to lift the government's borrowing cap.
Without congressional approval, a potential default could come early next week.
Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama
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Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 3:39 pm

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