Category Archives: Sovereign Debt

Euro Fracture: Greek Restructuring? – German FinMin

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble raised the specter of a Greece restructuring in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt.   Yields on Greek 10-year bonds jumped to 13.26 percent and the two-year note yield surged 103 basis points to 17.96 … Continue reading

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Components of the 10-Year Treasury Yield

An interesting chart from the IMF showing the components of the 10-year Treasury yield.   Note how oxymoronic credit risk (in pink)  crept into the “risk-free” 10-year rate starting around the collapse of Bear Sterns.   The IMF opines on what has … Continue reading

Posted in Bonds, Budget Deficit, Fiscal Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Chart of the Day: Fed Ownership of the Yield Curve

We’ve updated our chart illustrating the Fed ownership of the U.S. yield curve.   We’ve also included the percentage of total maturities the Fed owns in each year from the April 2011 data and December 2010 data.   Most of POMO buying … Continue reading

Posted in Bonds, Budget Deficit, Chart of the Day, Commodities, Credit, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day: Der Spiegel Headline

“At Some Point, People Will Speculate against Germany’ – Der Spiegel

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Stronger Euro Will Slaughter the PIIGS

The Euro keeps moving higher on expectations of an ECB interest rate hike and what is beginning to appear almost terminal dollar weakness.   The export destination mix of  Ireland, for example, is around 60 percent to the EU 27  and … Continue reading

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U.S. Macro in Two Simple Charts

To understand the U.S. economy go no further than the following two charts.  In 2009 and 2010, public sector borrowing was more than 100 percent of total net domestic credit flows.  Federal government borrowing was 93 percent of these flows.   … Continue reading

Posted in Credit, Economics, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy, Policy, Sovereign Debt, State and Local Government | 4 Comments

Euro Fracture: A “Tea Party” Revolt?

Much has been written about the growing anger and political strife within the highly indebted European periphery.   The FT reports today about the growing anger and resentment in the countries financing the bailouts, Even among Brussels’ tightly-knit cadre of … Continue reading

Posted in Euro, Fiscal Policy, Geopolitical, Monetary Policy, PIIGS, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Soros: Regime Change in Iran, Bond Crisis is U.S.

Fareed Zakaria discusses current events with George Soros on today’s GPS.   Click here for the entire interview.   It’s well worth your time. Money Quotes: Comparison 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and Middle East Uprisings SOROS: It is very similar. … Continue reading

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Geopolitical, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk, Uncategorized, Whales | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Weber’s Exit Highlights Merkel’s Euro Problem – Der Spiegel

A must read from Der Spiegel of the inside account of Axel Weber’s resignation. Bundesbank head Axel Weber’s resignation has made one thing clear: The debate about the future of the euro has become intense — and bitter. Indeed, Chancellor … Continue reading

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Currency, Euro, Monetary Policy, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Irish Opposition Balks At Bank Bailout, Moody’s Downgrades

The Irish Times is reporting this morning that the two main opposition parties, Fine Gael and Labour, want to delay the banking system’s recapitilasation until April, when the stress testing of lenders is complete. The Labour Party is taking an … Continue reading

Posted in Euro, PIIGS, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment