Gordon Kerr's Credit Compass: Navigating European Credit Markets

AI-Summarised Views for 2026

In this episode of Credit Compass, Gordon Kerr, KBRA’s European Macro Strategist, reviews Europe’s standout year in credit markets—from record issuance to tight spreads—and explores the forces behind the strength. Gordon then outlines a ChatGPT synthesis of 60 industry outlooks to reveal the emerging consensus for 2026 and potential tail risks.

A Small Accession, A Big Reallocation

In this episode of Credit Compass, Gordon Kerr, KBRA’s European Macro Strategist, discusses two structural shifts facing Europe as 2026 approaches: Bulgaria’s entry into the euro area and the early stages of the Dutch pension transition. One adds institutional depth; the other may reshape flows, duration demand, and asset-allocation trends across the continent.

What Regulators Worry About

In this episode of Credit Compass, Gordon Kerr, KBRA’s European Macro Strategist, examines rising fiscal and financial stability concerns across the UK and Europe, from the UK’s “buy now, pay later” budget to France’s tightening fiscal path. Gordon also discusses Bank of England and ECB [European Central Bank] research about the shifting risks in the private credit and insurance sectors.

Insolvency, Golden Slap, and the Budget That Blinked

In this episode of Credit Compass, Gordon Kerr, KBRA’s European Macro Strategist, explores Europe’s latest insolvency reform, Italy’s “golden power” dispute, and expectations for the UK’s upcoming budget. Together, they illustrate how regulation, politics, and fiscal credibility continue to shape Europe’s evolving credit landscape—offering both progress and persistent friction.

AI, Energy, and Credit Resets

In this episode of Credit Compass, Gordon Kerr, KBRA’s European Macro Strategist, explores the powerful intersection of AI and energy—how data-centre expansion is reshaping electricity demand, the grid bottlenecks slowing Europe’s transition, and what that means for credit markets. He also discusses the UK economy, where policy uncertainty tests investor confidence ahead of the Budget.