U.S. CDS hits 69.5 basis point record high

LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) – The price investors pay to insure themselves against the U.S. government defaulting on its debt jumped to a record high on Monday, according to data provider CMA DataVision.

Five-year credit default swaps on U.S. Treasuries widened to 69.5 basis points from 61.1 basis points at the New York close on Friday, CMA DataVision said.

That means investors were paying $69,500 a year to insure against default on $10 million worth of bonds.

Trading volumes were said to be reasonable considering U.S. markets were closed on Monday for the Martin Luther King Day holiday.