I found some thoughts on the still unconfirmed and detail-poor plan from the ECB to "participate" in restructuring of the Greek debt. Here I summarize what I've seen and what I think: It is up to the markets to decide how good or bad it is that the ECB lowers itself from superseniority to just "occasionally somewhat more senior than others". The markets could see this as a positive, as less seniority among debt holders will make other haircuts less painful to private investors. Under the ECB's superseniority, any bond purchases (=SMP) would actually weaken private holders' future position in possible restructurings, and thus render the SMP useless - or even harmful.
I believe the best that the ECB could do right now is to come up with clear pledge of how it will handle the SMP positions in any possible haircuts. This could get tricky, as announcing a policy now would signal that there will be other haircuts, and politically it would be very hard to do. Let me quote one of my favorite Finnish sayings:
When the shit is already in the pants, it is useless to continue squeezing it in
Markets already know that Portugal, and possibly Ireland and Spain are in for a haircut, either directly or indirectly. The haircuts are already in the 'pants' (market prices) and it is just stupid posturing to say or think anything else. It would be better for the ECB to show some leadership now, and not wait (again) until it has no other choice. A more proactive, communicative approach would be more thank welcome. Or are the leaders just trying to keep Sarkozy in the office, and hope to postpone reality for few more weeks? Is the whole Europe just the most expensive re-election campaign in the history of the world?
If you fancy peasant-like Finnish sayings, you can find another in my old post from 15-Oct. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook and email me for suggestions and requests. I also have an automated publication based on feeds I follow at paper.li
News – BTH
Markets – BTH
Debt crisis: live – The Telegraph
Europe Crisis Tracker – WSJ
EURO CRISIS: GENERAL
Merkel’s Desperate And Risky Gamble – Testosterone Pit
With her intervention in the French election, Merkel has created the impression that preventing Hollande from becoming president has morphed into a government policy, and it doesn’t necessarily enhance Germany’s image abroad.
Notice the bank run on private sector deposits in PIIGS vs. the rush of money to core.
Goldman Explains Why The Market Has Gotten Ahead Of Itself In Its European Optimism Again – ZH
Reasons for managing our recommendations more cautiously, linked to Euro area sovereign uncertainties and the likely balance of risks around the ECB’s policy stance vs. market expectations.
Reasons for managing our recommendations more cautiously, linked to Euro area sovereign uncertainties and the likely balance of risks around the ECB’s policy stance vs. market expectations.
EURO CRISIS: GREECE
Time is running out for the Greek government, which needs to reach a deal on unpopular austerity measures if it is to secure a second EU/IMF bailout. German commentators argue the country has already suffered enough, saying what are needed now are measures to stimulate growth.
The “Grexit” taboo has been broken – De Volkskrant / presseurop
At a time when Athens is still involved in debt restructuring negotiations with its private creditors, Neelie Kroes’ recent allusions to a Greek exit from the euro are a sign that European leaders are intent on preparing the terrain for such an eventuality.
The game has gone on for nearly two years: Athens pretends to comply with the demands of its creditors and partners, and they pretend to believe in Greece’s commitments. As the spectre of default comes nearer, however, the Greek bluff cannot go on much longer, writes an El Mundo editorialist.
Greek funny money – alphaville / FT
UBS talks about introducing quasi-money, as the country is out of cash for anything, including VAT rebates.
UBS talks about introducing quasi-money, as the country is out of cash for anything, including VAT rebates.
Podcasts:
Deutsche Bank’s Mayer Says Greece Has 3 Days Left – BB (mp3)
EURO CRISIS: ECB’s GREEK ‘LOSS’
Greece’s biggest holdout, dealt with? [updated] – alphaville / FT
Some equality among creditors is better than none. But what happens to the debt after it is placed to EFSF?
Some equality among creditors is better than none. But what happens to the debt after it is placed to EFSF?
The ECB's Scary Carry Trade, Or How The ECB Will Forego Greek Bond... PROFITS? – Peter Tchir / ZH
ECB has no “profits”, they are not giving up anything.
ECB has no “profits”, they are not giving up anything.
Mario blinks – Free exchange / The Economist
ECB not taking haircuts leads to deeper haircuts among private investors and makes investors wary of risky bonds because of possible SMP. ECB’s announcement to write down its bonds sends a strong supportive signal.
Risk Off As ECB Says Rumor Is Actually Not Fact – ZH
ECB contribution not yet decided, sources said
ECB contribution not yet decided, sources said
ECB and BOE meeting previews – Saxo Bank
BoE: 50% chance of £50bn QE, ECB: rates on hold to leave room for one emergency drop
EURO CRISIS: ECB
Goldman Conducts Poll On Latest European Deus Ex, Finds Respondents Expect €680Bn LTRO Take Up – ZH
Nice charts and survey quotes from the GS note.
Nice charts and survey quotes from the GS note.
ECB Preview – Danske Bank (pdf)
ECB on hold until the effects of the second LTRO on 29-Feb are seen, expect the Greek bond holdings not to be mentioned in the announcement but surely asked about in the Q&A press session.
REPO, SAFE ASSETS, LIQUIDITY
Safe by fiat – Deus Ex Macchiatto
The relative attractiveness of safe assets can therefore rise in three ways: more safe savings looking for a home; a higher volume of securitized financing needs; or ‘some of the privately produced safe assets disappear’. All of these deserve policy action.
Dystopia — safe assets edition – alphaville / FT
BarCap: the scarcity of safe assets is getting easier, but even if Fed released all its Treasury holdings to markets by 2016, ratio of safe assets / GDP would increase by 1%.
Overplaying the role of haircuts in the crisis – alphaville / FT
ICMA’s European Repo Council suggests that having haircuts is not that dangerous. Link to the report in the post.
ICMA’s European Repo Council suggests that having haircuts is not that dangerous. Link to the report in the post.
European repo has been contained! – alphaville / FT
Icap’s weekly report shows Italian repo rates are back to relatively normal levels, and so are the German ones. The next improvement would be an increase in German repo volume (meaning hoarding top quality collateral would have stopped).
Icap’s weekly report shows Italian repo rates are back to relatively normal levels, and so are the German ones. The next improvement would be an increase in German repo volume (meaning hoarding top quality collateral would have stopped).
DIVERSION
In Data Deluge, Multitaskers Go to Multiscreens – NYT
Money, like hat-wearing, depends on convention, not laws – John Kay
Interesting article on the Scottish pound and more.