It is hard to imagine that, having downgraded the US, S & P will not follow suit on at least one of the other members of the dwindling club of sovereign AAAs. If this were to materialise and involve a country like France, for example, it could complicate the already fragile efforts by Europe to rescue countries in its periphery.
Mohamed El-ErianInvestors have to ask themselves two questions. How much can we grow our investments? And, can we afford our mistakes?
Mohamed El-ErianThe world changes! So we're in a situation today where the only policymakers that have flexibility are central banks. But they don't have the instruments! So they've had to experiment, and the more you experiment, the more uncertainty and the higher the risk of collateral damage.
Mohamed El-ErianAs a whole, investors should welcome attempts to safeguard the integrity of markets. You need very clear rules applied to markets.
Mohamed El-ErianI remember when I was growing up, you would go to a bank to open a deposit, and they'd give you a toaster. A free toaster. These days, if you're a company, and you go to a bank, they could easily turn you away! They don't want your deposits anymore.
Mohamed El-Erian