NEW YORK: Credit markets are in good shape to handle any economic volatility or slowdown that may be coming, according to a panel of credit industry executives at the Milken Institute Global Conference.
They struck a more sanguine tone than many other guests at the event.
“Credit quality has never been higher” and “loan structures have never been more robust,” according to AGL Credit Management founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Peter Gleysteen.
Another panelist, Western Asset Management’s chief investment officer Michael Buchanan, said that the odds of a big recession are minimal.
He added that corporate fundamentals are strong and consumers are in good shape. If defaults pick up, “there’s plenty of capital ready to step in from the sidelines”.
“You do have this fundamental picture that has been quite resilient,” said Michael Zawadzki, global chief investment officer for Blackstone Credit and Insurance.
The optimistic outlook stood in contrast to some of the gloomier prognostications at the Milken conference on Monday, where thousands gathered to debate the state of the economy and financial markets as President Donald Trump’s tariffs loom over the business world. — Bloomberg
