Money
Pleasant Surprise: The U.S. CLO And ABL Markets' Resilient Mid-2026 And What It Means For H2
xCruzo Brief
US CLO issuance held up surprisingly well in the first half of 2026 despite tariff shocks, AI-related software loan downgrades, and higher energy prices tied to the Iran conflict. Combined broadly syndicated loan (BSL) and middle-market/private credit CLO issuance totaled about $103.3 billion across 236 deals in Q1, then rose to $126.5 billion across 285 deals in Q2. That left H1 near $230 billion. In Q2, BSL accounted for $111.7 billion and middle-market CLOs for $14.9 billion, with middle-market volume steady at roughly one-fifth for three straight years. Issuance lagged in April ($26.7 billion) but rebounded in May and June as pricing improved.
xCruzo quick-read summary • Source: Mondaq Business Briefing • Read the full article for complete information.







