The $9.4 billion of U.S. high yield bond issuance in October was the smallest amount recorded during a month since last December, despite a relative push last week (courtesy First Data, which upsized a planned $750 million offering to a whopping $3.4 billion).

The U.S. leveraged loan market continued to plod along, racking up $34 billion in activity during the month.

Through October, U.S. high yield volume totaled $234 billion, down from $273 billion at that point last year.

Leveraged loan volume through October was $381 billion, down from $482 billion in 2014. – Staff reports