Emerging market corporate debt deals have hit a record level in 2014 so far as bouts of intense volatility failed to discourage yield-hungry investors.

There have been $284 billion of emerging market debt deals so far this year, according to Dealogic, the highest year-to-date total since its records began in 2000. However, the number of deals is down slightly on this time last year at 503 compared with 559 at this stage in 2013.