Monday, May 04, 2015

Bill Gates: Low rates pose leverage, bubble risks

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said Monday he's concerned about the negative ramifications of continuing low interest rates not only in the U.S. but around the world.

"The environment with low interest rates—it's globally so unusual. It really shouldn't persist," he said. "It creates problems in terms of leverage and bubbles. But how we get out of it creating some economic setback? It would be very difficult."

The Federal Reserve is in a tough spot because central banks in Europe are still lowering rates at a time the Fed is considering hiking rates, Gates said. "People do expect the U.S. to sort of take the lead in pushing our way out of this situation." .... http://www.cnbc.com