Tag Archives: Greece

Week in Review: The Power of Zero v. Macro Swans

Posted on May 22, 2011 by macromon

After a week where several major equity indices bounced off key moving averages only to close weak on fears of the  Euro/sovereign debt McSwan,  next week will be a another big test  for the markets.  Last week’s lows are very … Continue reading →

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The Weekend Read: Judgement Day

Posted on May 20, 2011 by macromon

Five months ago, a government change in Spain’s Catalonia region revealed a budget deficit more than twice as big as previously reported. Now, a growing chorus of economists, local politicians and business leaders say that new governments are likely to … Continue reading →

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Merkel Hammers Greece on Retirement Age and Vacation

Posted on May 19, 2011 by macromon

The European election cycle is kicking into high gear as the German chancellor had some tough words for Greece,  Spain, and Portugal.  Spiegel ONLINE reports, “It is also important that people in countries like Greece, Spain and Portugal are not … Continue reading →

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The Weekend Read: McSwan Watch

Posted on May 13, 2011 by macromon

Chinese speculators have emerged as a big driver of silver’s spectacular rally and subsequent crash with trading in the metal in Shanghai soaring nearly 30-fold since the start of the year. The commodity, nicknamed “the devil’s metal” for its wild … Continue reading →

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Euro Swan Dives; Eichengreen Nails It

Posted on May 11, 2011 by macromon

The Euro is down big again on debt fears/confusion/politics.   Europe needs a plan and we point to Barry Eichengreen’s (our bet for next year’ Nobel Prize)  article posted on Project Syndicate this morning. There is a fear in Europe and … Continue reading →

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A Credible & Comprehensive Plan for Europe’s Debt Crisis

Posted on April 25, 2011 by macromon

The following is the Executive Summary of a longer article that offers up a credible and comprehensive plan for the European Debt Crisis, which deals with the periphery debt overhang  and weak balance sheets of Europe’s commercial banks.  It has … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Bonds, Currency, Euro, Geopolitical, PIIGS, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Euro Fracture: Angry Greeks

Posted on April 20, 2011 by macromon

The following article was posted today on SpiegelOnline and reflects the toxic and fractious politics in the Eurozone.   Whether it is the historic turnout for the True Finns on Sunday or the Angry Greeks suing German newspapers,  Europe is, at … Continue reading →

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Euro Fracture: Foreign Bank Exposure to GIPs

Posted on April 15, 2011 by macromon

Great chart from the Economist of foreign bank exposure to Greece, Ireland, and Portugal (GIP) and explains why “restructuring” is so taboo with European policymakers. The Greek sovereign credit curve is inverted with the 2-year now yielding around 18 percent … Continue reading →

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Euro Fracture: Greek Restructuring? – German FinMin

Posted on April 14, 2011 by macromon

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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Where is Gold Headed?

Posted on November 30, 2010 by macromon

In 1996, we visited the Bulgarian central bank at a time when the country was experiencing economic turmoil and a loss of confidence that the government could rollover its maturing debt.  After a long discussion on the domestic economy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Swan Watch, Commodities, Currency, Euro, Fiscal Policy, Gold, PIIGS, Policy, Politics, Sovereign Debt, Sovereign Risk | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment