Ally Financial Inc

Investor flows in high-yield bond funds were negative last week. According to Lipper, the net outflows from high-yield bond funds totaled $0.5 billion.

Five analysts suggested a “hold,” one recommended a “strong sell,” and nine recommended a “strong buy” on DFS stock.

The PIMCO RAE Low Volatility Plus Emerging Fund Class A (PLVVX) is an alternative mutual fund that mimics the long/short strategy to construct a portfolio with low volatility and high-income securities.

Davidson Kempner exited a position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) that accounted for 1.29% of the fund’s 1Q14 portfolio. This position was initiated in 1Q14. JPMorgan Chase is a leading global financial services firm. It has $2.5 trillion assets. It has operations worldwide.

Davidson Kempner exited a position in Omnicom (OMC) that accounted for 1.93% of the fund’s 1Q14 portfolio. The position was initiated in 1Q14. Omnicom is a leading global advertising, marketing, and corporate communications company. It offers its services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

Investors could consider hedging their short-term duration risk (HYG: 3.98 years, JNK: 4.20 years) with a short position in longer-dated bonds.

Davidson Kempner initiated a new position in Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) that accounted for 1.22% of the fund’s 2Q14 portfolio. Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products. The products include writing instruments, consumer products for home, tools like hand tools, and power tool accessories.

Davidson Kempner initiated a new position in Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY) that accounted for 5.5% of the fund’s 2Q14 portfolio. Ally Financial is currently the second largest position in the fund’s portfolio. Ally Financial is an automotive financial services company. It has ~95 years of experience.

D. E. Shaw initiated a new position in Ally Financial that accounts for 0.13% of the company’s U.S. long portfolio. Ally Financial is an automotive financial services company with ~95 years of experience.

Davidson Kempner initiated a new position in WL Ross Holding (WLRH) that accounted for 1.85% of the fund’s 2Q14 portfolio. WL Ross is a newly organized blank check company. It was formed by billionaire Wilbur Ross. It was formed to affect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock repurchase, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

American Express (AXP) is covered by 31 analysts in March 2018. Two of them have given it a “strong sell” rating, and one is recommending “sell.”

Discover Financial Services (DFS) has a PE (price-to-earnings) ratio on an NTM (next 12-month) basis of 10.26x, while the average for its peers is 13.97x.

PLVVX holds fixed income securities in both long and short positions. The fund also holds derivative forward, future, and swap agreements on government securities, indexes, and currencies.

Informed investors can profit from businesses that have filed for bankruptcy. A chapter 11 bankruptcy gives a company a second chance to revive its business.

The number of high-yield bond issuances kept the primary market very busy in the week ended May 15. Investors had a strong appetite for junk bonds.

You don’t have to be an institutional investor or money manager for the FOMC’s meeting minutes to have an impact on your investments.

Ally Financial, Whiting Petroleum, and Cliffs Natural Resources were among the most prolific issuers of high yield bonds in the primary market.

Ally Financial (ALLY) provided financial services and products to auto dealers in the US. It issued $1.25 billion in BB+ rated senior notes in two tranches.

Following the Fed’s monetary policy announcement, issuers of junk bonds, or high yield debt, returned to the market in the week leading up to March 27.

D. E. Shaw initiated a new position in Navient that accounts for 0.28% of the company’s U.S. long portfolio. Navient holds the largest portfolio of education loans insured or guaranteed under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (referred to as FFELP loans).