S&P : CORPORATE DEFAULTS +200% YoY....SUMMARY YR TO DATE: This week saw 7 defaults (2nd highest after 8 in wk of Feb 2) Total : 47 defaults YTD (almost 3 x number in 2008 same period) - 31 in US (66%) - 8 in Emerg mkts (17%) - 5 in Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand (11%) - 3 in EU (6%) So far this year, 43% (20 issuers) were due to missed interest payments, 36% (17 issuers) were bankruptcy related, 15% (7 issuers) were distressed exchange related & the remaining 6% (3 issuers) were due to other reasons.