Category Archives: Sovereign Debt

Is the U.S. Government Bankrupt? Not Even Close.

Posted on March 30, 2017 by macromon

We often hear the meme “the U.S. is the next Greece.”   “The government is insolvent.”  Complete nonsense. We tend to focus too much on the right side of the government’s balance sheet and not the left side — the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Sovereign Debt | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Broken Bond Market

Posted on March 18, 2017 by macromon

The Fed tightens on Wednesday and bonds rally.  What the hay? GaveKal, Jeff Gundlach,  and Jim Bianco nailed it in that every spec and their mother are/were short 10-year Treasuries. Source: Quandl (see here for interactive chart) But this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, Monetary Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , | 58 Comments

Euro Debt Constraining Growth – FT

Posted on June 26, 2014 by macromon

Ralph Atkins, the FT’s capital markets editor, discusses high private sector debt levels in the eurozone with Moritz Kraemer, S&P’s chief sovereign ratings officer. Mr Kramer says Europe is ‘in for the long haul’ on debt deleveraging. For more video … Continue reading →

Posted in Euro, Eurozone Sovereign Spreads, Sovereign Debt | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

WTF Were They Thinking?

Posted on March 18, 2013 by macromon

That’s our System 1 (fast) thinking  kicking in after hearing the news of the Cyprus bail-in of depositors.  Our fast thinking really fears contagion and makes us want to vendere la casa!   We often get into trouble trading with … Continue reading →

Posted in ECB, Equities, Euro, Germany, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Eurozone Sovereign Spreads Since Italy’s Election

Posted on March 7, 2013 by macromon

ECB president, Mario Draghi, spoke in this morning’s press conference about how contagion has been contained in the eurozone bond markets since the Italian elections.   The data are in and he is right. The markets had closed before the election … Continue reading →

Posted in German Bund, Germany, Italian Yields, Italy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Who Owns the U.S. Treasury Market?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by macromon

The 10-year Treasury bond yield traded at 2.03 percent today a level not seen since April 2012. We thought it’s a good time to revisit who are the major holders of U.S. Treasury securities.   Some of the data are … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonds, Fiscal Policy, Interest Rates, Sovereign Debt | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

VIX Has Largest Weekly Down Move Since Inception

Posted on January 5, 2013 by macromon

The CBOE has a nice piece out noting this week’s 39.1 percent collapse in the VIX was the largest weekly percent down move since the index was launched in January 1990.  The week also saw record volume days for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Stock Performance, Monetary Policy, Sovereign Debt | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Cue ‘Plan C’ Cliff Aversion Scheme

Posted on December 22, 2012 by macromon

President Obama proposed a package of middle-class tax cuts and unempoyment benefits as a temporary solution to the looming ‘fiscal cliff.’ White House correspondent David Nakamura says Republicans may face pressure to pass the measure. Hope the pols have, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal Cliff Monitor, Fiscal Policy, Sovereign Debt | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ciao, Mario Monti!

Posted on December 8, 2012 by macromon

This is not good.  Not totally unexpected.  Cue Italy and France in 2013.  Maybe. (click here if video is not observable)

Posted in Euro, France, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Back to Wartime Debt Levels

Posted on October 15, 2012 by macromon

The IMF’s World Economic Outlook is out with some great charts and we post one of them right here. Last week the Fund’s managing director,  Christine Lagarde, issued a chilling warning on the global debt overhang, Ms Lagrde had earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment