With interest rates and monetary policy locked in for the near term and fiscal policy uncertainties expected to persist, our top-down 2013 outlook is for a low growth, low inflation economic environment. We believe this "Goldilocks" environment — which is neither "too hot" nor "too cold" — could be credit supportive. A bottom-up reading of the credit environment also supports this view, but the story becomes more of a cautionary tale in which investors need to be more selective about their investment choices.
With interest rates and monetary policy locked in for the near term and fiscal policy uncertainties expected to persist, our top-down 2013 outlook is for a low growth, low inflation economic environment. We believe this "Goldilocks" environment — which is neither "too hot" nor "too cold" — could be credit supportive. A bottom-up reading of the credit environment also supports this view, but the story becomes more of a cautionary tale in which investors need to be more selective about their investment choices.