Blackstone eyes bargains after first quarter earnings miss forecast

Blackstone Group, the world's largest alternative asset manager, on Thursday posted unexpectedly weak earnings growth between January and March, hit by a difficult financial market, but it promised to scour for bargains in a tough environment. The earnings report resonated with a cooldown in private equity dealmaking this year, as the market for high-yield bonds and loans, the lifeblood of private equity, struggles to recover after stumbling late last year. New York-based Blackstone said its eco