NEW YORK — Here’s a markets riddle for you: What has jumped in value more than its biggest fans expected and withstood worries like slowing U.S. growth, European debt woes and even the specter of the U.S. losing its top credit rating? No, it’s not the stock market.

Stumped? It’s junk bonds, a sort of IOU from risky companies thought most likely to not pay back their debt.

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