Oaktree's Poli: Amid concerns over stocks and bonds, credit is the place to be

Danielle Poli, Portfolio Manager at Oaktree Capital Management, says the credit market is delivering returns that are close to the historic gains for equities, noting that the current set-up is reminiscent of times in the early 2000s when credit "smoked" equities. With high-yield bonds earning around 8 percent and private credit showing significant demand, Poli says that credit can be more than just "a great place to hide out," amid rocky conditions and uncertainty surrounding the stock and bond markets. In talking with corporate executives, Poli says she has come to expect a slower economic environment, with the potential for higher inflation from tariffs, creating the kind of environment where "you're going to want to be in credit over equities."