Kurt Kringelis, CFA, CPA, J.D., Senior Portfolio Manager, U.S. Credit

The market has remained remarkably resilient in the face of weaker macro data. With earnings season coming to a close, there is a risk that investors focus more closely on macro and geopolitical headlines but we are inclined for now to give the market the benefit of the doubt again given the muted volatility in spreads this year.

Christine Hurtsellers, CIO Fixed Income

Despite uneven economic growth and the occasional headline risks, global central bank accommodation should continue to support the northward climb of equity and fixed income markets for the balance of 2013. For global investors searching for attractive currency-hedged yields, our bias is to ride the liquidity wave in favor of global credit risk, favoring such sectors investment grade corporates, U.S. non-agency RMBS and CMBS.

Jeff Bakalar, Managing Director and Group Head of the ING Senior Loan Group

The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index (The "Index") gained a healthy 0.09% for the week, bringing the year-to-date return to 3.13%. The entirety of the week's total return came in the form of interest income, as the average Index bid was essentially unmoved (up 1 bp).

Another week, another series of new record highs for the S&P 500 and DJIA, as mixed economic data wasn’t able to derail the markets from their fourth consecutive week of gains. Developed Europe and Asia also advanced, while emerging markets continued to lag.

Kurt Kringelis, CFA, CPA, J.D., Senior Portfolio Manager, U.S. Credit

The market has remained remarkably resilient in the face of weaker macro data. With earnings season coming to a close, there is a risk that investors focus more closely on macro and geopolitical headlines but we are inclined for now to give the market the benefit of the doubt again given the muted volatility in spreads this year.

Daniel P. Donnelly, Head of Investment Communications

Mixed economic data during April inspired fears that the domestic economy was on the precipice of another spring swoon, the annual post-crisis tradition that historically has been greeted by markets with the same warmth as the contemporaneous pollen season is by allergy sufferers. Soft numbers failed to dim the enthusiasm of investors, however, who kept the equity rally going as they continued to bask in the warm glow of ample global liquidity and corporate earnings growth.

Jeff Bakalar, Managing Director and Group Head of the ING Senior Loan Group

The S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index (The "Index") gained a healthy 0.26% this week, as the average Index bid added 17 bps to close at 98.59. Importantly, the new deal pipeline picked up, an increasing portion of which is net new exposure.