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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights into the best credit trading desks in London, particularly for high yield (HY) and distressed credit:

  1. Barclays: Known for being strong in distressed and high-yield credit. They have a legacy of Lehman traders, which adds to their expertise in this space.

  2. J.P. Morgan (JPM): A well-rounded shop with a strong presence in investment-grade (IG) and high-yield credit. They also excel in structured credit and have the largest balance sheet globally, which supports their credit trading operations.

  3. Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML): Recognized for being strong in the credit space, including high-yield credit. They also have a solid reputation in structured credit.

  4. Deutsche Bank (DB): A solid IG and HY credit shop with a strong rates desk. They have been actively adding traders, showing commitment to their S&T arm.

  5. Goldman Sachs (GS): Highly regarded in the high-yield and investment-grade credit space. They are strong across various trading desks, including credit.

  6. Morgan Stanley (MS): While not as dominant as some others, they maintain a good presence in the high-yield and investment-grade credit businesses.

These banks are considered top players in London for credit trading, particularly in high-yield and distressed credit. If you're looking to break into this space, targeting these institutions would be a strong move.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

DB is number 1 after the former CS team went there. They are the clear number 1 by a mile. JP and GS are big flow houses. MS is a mess, BAML is okay, Citi a bit of a mess, Barc is decent, BNP should be strong but keep losing money so a bit of a mess. The other European banks are way behind. UBS is a joke, Natwest doesn't pay, ING a joke that doesn't pay. Soc Gen not really a player but that may change with new IB head. Santander making moves but too early to tell if they are serious. 

 

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