The Education Department issued alerts to borrowers this week, falsely indicating that their federal student loans are in default. And some people are panicking.

Starting the week of Jan. 7, the Education Department will begin sending notices about paycheck deductions to about 1,000 of five million borrowers in default.

A credit default swap (CDS) is a contract that protects lenders from borrower default. Learn how a CDS works, why they’re used, and the key risks in financial markets.

A default happens when you have skipped one or several payments in a row on a loan or credit card. Since defaulting can cause your credit (and overall financial health) to quickly plummet, you want to do your best to avoid it. CNBC Select breaks down what ...

Learn about cross-default clauses in loans, their mechanisms, domino effects on debt, and ways to mitigate financial risks.

China Vanke Co., which just days ago got a reprieve on a local bond, is back in a familiar situation, as investors in another note finish voting on the distressed developer’s bid to delay payment amid its struggle with a mountain of debt due in coming months.