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EUROPEAN JUNK BONDS RETAINED SLIGHT FAVOR over their less-risky investment-grade counterparts, as stocks in Europe's bourses stepped modestly higher. A bit   less acute German political risk  was in the picture, relative to yesterday. The view grew that   a return to the   Grand Coalition  of parties urged by Angela Merkel may be best , despite resistance from the liberal   SPD ( Social Democratic Party of Germany). This, along with a   sharp fresh high in crude-oil prices, led investors in Europe to show a slight preference for risk assets, as   WTI (West Texas Intermediate) oil touched its highest close in over two years.   European oil firms rose accordingly  as gains in   Royal Dutch Shell PLC  shares added 1.0%,   Tullow Oil PLC  was up 4.3%, and   Total SA  was up 1.4%. In other sector cues for bond traders,   Akzo Nobel NV shares added 1.4%,  Thomas Cook PLC was off 7.7%, as of   4:40  London time.       

JUNK BONDS FLUCTUATED HIGHER  in overall price gains linked to trades, outpacing investment-grade debt on the European trading front. A  strong showing by Europe's carmakers  was a major element in today's market dynamic, as   Volkswagen AG  shares jumped 3.1%,   Fiat Chrysler NV  was up 1.6%, and   Renault SA added 1.3%, as of   3:30 PM, London time. Today's rebound in risk assets, on the heels of the worst run of sell-offs since October of '16, was fed also by upbeat data from heavyweight conglomerate   Bouygues SA,   3i Group PLC, and  British Land Co. PLC.   Nymex  oil prices stabilized around $55.30, supporting a   rebound in the oil-and-energy sector  as the view grew that U.S. shale producers will be more disciplined, going forward. 

CAUTION AND PROFIT-TAKING kept Europe's   investment-grade bonds with a slight edge  over junk debt in today's trading. A   mix of European economic data  kept price swings channeled in fairly thin bands, as   inflation took a downturn,   GDP came in above forecast, and jobs data showed the   lowest unemployment since '09. The   oil-and-energy group fared well, giving important sector cues to corporate-bond traders, as   Nymex  oil prices hovered around $54 and   BP PLC shares initially rose 3.6%. However BNP Paribas weighed on the financial group, off 2.9% on disappointing quarterly revenue, while   Weir Group PLC tanked 7.3%. 

JUNK BONDS REGAINED A SLIGHT EDGE over less-risky  investment-grade debt, as stocks in Europe's bourses took a turn to the upside. The pan-European   Stoxx 600  index reflected a string of gains among European equities, driven mainly by   dovish comments from Mario Draghi, chief of the   ECB (European Central Bank). In a more-or-less expected stance, Draghi pledged to move cautiously in scaling back stimulus measures, sending the  euro lower  and putting many investors in risk assets in a good mood. Corporate-bond traders took cues from   early gains in Spanish banks, with   Banco Sabadell SA  shares up 4.7% at one point,  BBVA  up 3%, while   Nokia Corp. was off over 17% as of   5 PM  London time.