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Chinese PM Wen bathes in 290 tonnes of olive oil while buying Greek bonds
My favorite pinata (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi3semJPQzk), Greece, has received some help from China. On a visit to Greece (first by a Chinese Prime Minister in 24 years), Wen said China had bought some Greek government bonds and would do so again in the future. This has helped bring down 10-year Greek government bond yields below 10% for…
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Ireland might be downgraded again; Euro strength hurts
Moody’s warned it may cut Ireland’s credit rating again as the country has to foot a huge bill from bailing out its banks. For now, the recent rise in Irish government bond yields seems to have been halted: 10 year Irish government bond yield. Source: Bloomberg.com As the house of cards (Euro zone) is wobbling…
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In God we trust
Sometimes I get accused of having “religious beliefs” in gold. Why is gold so valuable – because it’s rare, and expensive to extract from earth (ca $450 per ounce). However, it is impossible to calculate a “fair” price. I am the first one to admit that gold has no earnings, no dividend yield. You might…
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Ireland’s bank bail-out cost reaches EUR 50bn; bond sales suspended
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen just announced the government decided to cancel all bond auctions for the rest of the year because of “market turbulence”. The 10yr yield, after having reached a record 6.8% in recent days, retreated to 6.57%. Irish 10 year government bond yield. Source: Bloomberg.com On Thursday, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan revealed…
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Ireland’s solvency now ranked between Pakistan and Ukraine
Ireland is now right between Ukraine and Pakistan when it comes to likelihood of default (which, over the next 5 years, is at 35%). This after Irish GDP fell 1.2% in Q2 (vs +0.5% expected) and Q1 growth rate was revised down to 2.2% (from 2.7%). GNP (gross national product) fell 4.1% (-2.7% expected). Irish…
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Former German FinMin says Greece will default
From an interview (9/14/2010) with German magazine “Der Spiegel” former German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck (2005-2009): SPIEGEL: In the end, the euro-zone countries approved a bailout package that required Athens to impose a drastic austerity program and that includes loans worth €110 billion. Are the measures sufficient? Steinbrück: Just look at the numbers. Despite the…
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Portuguese bond auction: high yields, low demand
10 year Portuguese government bond yields today retreated to 6.13% (from 6.31%) after the auction of fresh government debt: EUR 450m of 4yr paper at 4.70% (vs 3.62% at previous auction) and 300m of 10yr debt at 6.24% (vs 5.31%). The total of EUR 750m raised was at the low end of the planned 750m-1bn…
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Irish bond auction a “success” – EFSF would have been cheaper
10yr Irish government bond yields eased today to 6.29% (-0.19) after the “successful” auction of 3 1/2 (yield 4.77% vs 3.63% at previous auction) and 8 year (6.02% vs 5.09%) new government debt. This now has cemented the fact that it would be cheaper for Ireland to ask the EFSF (European Financial Stability Fund) for…
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Greece cancels plans to sell additional debt
Greece just cancelled a road show that was supposed to begin on Wednesday in London to sell more debt. The Prime Minister said “Greece won’t come to the market now” and “Greece is on target for deficit cuts”. Guys at the EFSF (European Financial Stability Fund) – on your marks! Looks like you might be…
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Irish and Portuguese spreads at all time highs
All-time highs for Portuguese and Irish 10yr yield spreads: 10yr Portuguese government bond yields – intraday September 20, 2010. Source: Bloomberg. 10yr Irish government bond yields – intraday September 20, 2010. Source: Bloomberg. Market fears that tomorrow’s (9/21) EUR 1.5bn auction of fresh Irish debt (4 and 8 years) might not go well. Irish 10yr…
