BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said Thursday he’s optimistic about financial markets as the economy attempts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am incredibly bullish on the markets,” Fink said in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” while adding he shares long-term concerns about the implications of government deficits. “Is that a worry for me at this moment? No,” he added.
The co-founder and chairman of the world’s largest asset manager said the market is reflecting his view.
“Deficits right now are not a big issue, and that’s what the markets are saying. And they’re not a big issue because the amount of money that’s on the sideline, the amount of capital that is trying to be put to work.”
However, Fink said the strength of the economy in the years ahead could change his outlook.
“If we don’t have economic growth that is sustainable over the next 10 years — and I’m saying economic growth that is above 3% — our deficits are going to matter, and they are going to elevate interest rates at some time,” he said.
Fink’s comments Thursday came after BlackRock reported first-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations. The company’s assets under management also increased to just over $9 trillion, up 39% from $6.47 trillion in the same quarter a year ago.