Amid strong investor sentiment and improving technical conditions in the leveraged loan market, S&P/LSTA Index returns climbed to a five-month high of 0.50% in November, from 0.26% in October.

The S&P/LSTA Index is up 2.89% in the year to date, versus 4.80% during the same period in 2013. The Loan 100, by comparison, lags the broader Index in the year to date, at 2.46%, versus 4.58% during the first 11 months of last year. Here, too, returns are at the lowest level since 2011, when the Loan 100 gained 0.63%.

• More information on the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index
• For background on the leveraged loan market check out the online Loan Market Primer, free courtesy LCD.