Some investors confident as $3 billion Venezuela debt payment looms

Venezuela will likely stay current on its debt and make about $3 billion in payments next week, according to some investors and bondholders, voicing guarded optimism even amid worsening turmoil for the country. Venezuela bond bulls have come under pressure since the country’s Supreme Court stripped all powers from its Congress in a ruling last week, a power grab that drew widespread condemnation and sent its traded debt to nine-month lows, even sinking after the court reversed the move. So far, betting on Venezuelan bonds has tended to pay off for investors able to separate the government’s steady ability to honor payment deadlines from widespread concern about its stability and economic stewardship. More…