Archive - Jan 26, 2015 - Story

The post-QECB euphoria in Greek asset markets was prognosticated by those who prefer to do such things as indicative that "the markets know something," positive about Sunday's (yesterday's) election... because markets are efficient and always 'price in' events (just like 1987, 2000, 2008 etc...). However, this morning ugliness in both Greek stock (especially banks) and bond markets suggests it was nothing more than algo-driven carry-inspired short-squeezes as both stocks and bonds plunged at the open. Stocks received the ubiquitous - well it's down so we better buy 'em treatment - but even that is fading as stocks catch back down to bonds' weakness, having unwound most of QECB's goodness...

The headline-reading algos were at the top of their game this morning when milliseconds after OPEC's general secretary Abdalla El-Badri said oil prices could reach $200 a barrel if there's a lack of investment following this price slump... though failed to provide any timeline for his forecast. WTI prices jumped $1 from $45 to $46 even as El-Badri noted the market was still over-supplied by 1.5 million barrels per day.

We've heard it all: snow, cold weather, hot weather, non one-time recurring, "one-time, non-recurring" charges, and even Bush. But when it comes to "excuses" for why one is wrong, this morning Goldman's note "Central banks stall a more bearish gold outlook" absolutely takes the cake.

• Alexis Tsipras: the Syriza leader about to take charge in Greece (Guardian)
• Tsipras to form anti-bailout Greek government after big victory (Reuters)
• Tsipras Forges Anti-Austerity Coalition in EU Challenge (BBG)
• East Coast braces, flights canceled as 'historic' blizzard bears down (Reuters)
• Rebels press Ukraine offensive, Obama promises steps against Russian-backed 'aggression (Reuters)
• Syriza Victory Brings Hope for Immigrants of EU Access (BBG)
• For Saudis, Falling Demand for Oil Is the Biggest Concern (BBG)
• Oil prices fall on market relief over Saudi policy (Reuters)

This morning both the SNB stunner from two weeks ago, and the less than stunning ECB QE announcement from last Thursday are long forgotten, and the only topic on markets' minds is the startling surge of Syriza and its formation of a coalition government with another anti-bailout party - a development that many in Europe never expected could happen, and which has pushed Europe to the bring of the unexpected yet again. And while there is much speculation that this time Europe is much better positioned to "handle a Grexit", the reality is that European bank balance sheets are as bad if not worse than in 2014, 2013, 2012 or any other year for that matter, because none of ther €1+ trillion in NPLs have been addressed and the only thing that has happened is funding bank capital deficiencies with newly printed money. You know what they say about solvency and liquidity.