US DATA: SIFMA’s mid-year roundtable forecast is that the U.S. economy
will grow at 2.1 percent in ’12 and 2.1 percent in ’13, slightly weaker
than prior ests, reflecting concerns over European sov debt and US
fiscal policy. Unanimous est is FOMC will not tighten through 2013.
About half making ests expect a rate hike mid- to late-2014. Respondents
who did not put a date to rate hikes opined that the timing of future
rate hikes was dependent upon meaningful improvement on unemployment
(generally at or below 7 percent) and solid GDP growth. More on MNI Main
wire.