Puerto Rico Agency Misses Full Bond Payment in First Default

the Puerto Rican Capitol building on July 1, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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A Puerto Rico agency defaulted on bonds for the first time Monday, initiating a clash with creditors as the struggling commonwealth seeks to renegotiate its $72 billion debt load.

The Caribbean island paid just $628,000 of what was due on securities sold by its Public Finance Corp. because the legislature didn’t provide enough money, Melba Acosta, the president of its Government Development Bank, said in a statement. About $58 million of interest and principal was due.