After dipping an estimated 20% in 2006, U.S. corporate bankruptcies will jump by some 17% next year, estimates Global Insight Inc., Waltham, Mass. Most of the increase will occur in metals, mining and energy sectors, as well as in real estate and closely related industries, according to the economic research firm. Within the industrial sector, vulnerable industries named include machine tools, building materials and related chemicals industries, and textiles.
Global Insight says several already high-risk categories could see improvement in 2007. Those include motor vehicles and parts, watches and clocks, and computing hardware.
The greatest improvements in credit quality are expected to outside manufacturing. Those arenas include telecommunications, utilities, insurance, healthcare services.
