Identify this very large industry: it has about $2.5tn of debt outstanding, a good chunk of which is considered junk by the credit rating agencies. About half the debt is American, and about half the $2.5tn is owed to banks in the form of loans. Oh, and the price for the industry’s main product has fallen by more than a third in the past 12 months. Lenders who support the oil industry can take some comfort from a recent recovery in the price of crude, with debt prices rebounding since January. As the oil price decline only became a rout in November, perhaps swift recovery can be rationalised as well. Most companies that suck oil out of the ground agree a price for their product well in advance, so it is sold today at last year’s prices, giving indebted companies some time to adjust.