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California Runs Out Of Money Again, Comes Begging To Wall Street As Moody's Threatens To Go Nuclear On Muni Market
First New Jersey, now California. The cash-strapped state, which begged for, and got, a "bridge" loan from JP Morgan as recently as October 2010 (the same bank that recently bailed out Chris Christie), is asking for another bridge to the old bridge loan, ergo a "bridge bridge" loan. The excuse: the potential upcoming government shutdown, which would lock California out of the muni market. Surely the fact that it already has little to no cash left was not a part of the equation. BusinessWeek reports: "California is considering seeking a bridge loan from Wall Street ahead of an Aug. 2 deadline for raising the federal debt ceiling, in case talks fail and send the bond market into turmoil, Treasurer Bill Lockyer said. Proceeds from the loan would be used to help pay the state’s bills until Lockyer can sell an estimated $5 billion of so-called revenue-anticipation notes, or RANs, scheduled for late August. Without those notes, the state could run out of cash as it did in 2009, when it issued $2.6 billion of IOUs." Of course if the US is downgraded, Meredith Whitney's prediction will come true with a bang: as part of its warning yesterday, Moody's also threatened to downgrade 7000 municipal ratings which would halt RAN, and any other, issuance for an indefinite period of time. And while this is merely more M.A.D. posturing to help the debt ceiling dispute come to a speedy resolution, the fact that California is now forced to issue new bridge loans to "bridge" old ones is oddly troubling.
More:
“We are hoping to get our borrowing done before Aug. 2,” Lockyer told reporters following a speech yesterday in Sacramento.
A failure to raise the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt limit would lead to a “major crisis” and throw “shock waves” through the financial system, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said yesterday at a House Financial Services Committee hearing.
Moody’s Investors Service put the U.S. under review yesterday for a credit rating downgrade, adding to concern that political gridlock will lead to a default. The company warned it may lower 7,000 ratings on $130 billion in municipal debt backed by U.S. Treasury or other federal securities or repaid with federal money such as Medicaid grants and economic-stimulus aid if the U.S. loses its top rating.
Lockyer said he’s concerned about the possibility of federal delays in Medicare subsidies and other payments to California and about long-term reductions in U.S. aid to states. A default, he said, could prompt the federal government to prioritize payments to states that would affect California’s cash flow.
“The ripple effect on state and local finances is very substantial,” he said. “Depending on how long the delay was, you might have a cash-flow hit. Of course, the budget negotiations might result in reduced payments to the states. There’s two kinds of worry.”
What would happen in a best case scenario?
The new bridge loan would be repaid by the RANs, which the state would pay off when the bulk of taxes is collected later in the year.
Lockyer sold $10 billion of RANs in November, including $2.25 billion of notes that came due in May with a yield of 1.5 percent and $7.75 billion that matured in June at 1.75 percent.
Those May notes yielded 98 basis points, or 0.98 percentage point, more than top-rated one-year debt at the time and the June notes yielded 123 basis points more, Municipal Market Advisors data show. California sold $8.8 billion of such notes in September 2009 and $5 billion the year before.
On the other hand, if there is indeed a downgrade, California's cash lockout would be the least of anyone's worries.
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Golden State
Bitchez
More like "Gold Plated" state.
The iron pyrite state.
Silver just broke out of its trading range.
Look out above.
Now that's a Silver Woodie if ever I saw one.
Ben giveth. JPM taketh away.
Yes, heading up thru 39.13 as I write this.
However I rather doubt TPTB will let the paper market go much higher. I fully expect another huge smack-down as it gets up around 40 or crosses 40.
They're just not going to let the paper silver market break out into a full natural runup.
...which is fine with me, more opportunity to buy it cheap ...physical that is.
Considering JPM is sitting at 40.78, you could be right. That is if JPM indeed did collateralize their stock for their naked short position on the paper silver markets.
Not sure about that. They have bigger fish to fry, than attempting to suppress silver in the face of massive asian and domestic buying... all to protect an institutional perception that is collapsing?
Once we get to 'abbandon ship, bankers and financiers first', and the suits and pig men trample over their grandmothers to get to the lifeboats, this whole menagerie could drop...
"TPTB" may have to prioritize their resources.
The clock is definitely ticking on "buying it cheap" my friend. Local brokers are already scalping the physical Ag and many larger brokers are raising premiums as well.
Nice, well done!
dup
...or the Golden Shower state.
"It's time to eat our pee."
-Sacramento
<double post, no additional charge>
Please anyone could share a list of
ETF´s related to Munibonds, and tickers of Most Tradeable Equity;Funds, Munibonds?...
TO get short
Thanks,.
The Golden State is so desperate for money that they stopped issuing 60 day notices for vehicle registration so they can collect on late fees.
so you had a late fee...
why not blame the mailman?
The Golden State is so desperate for money that they stopped issuing 60 day notices for vehicle registration so they can collect on late fees.
time to make it state number 32 - for Mexico
California situation is very easy to fix
In 1-2 years, CA will have a large state budget surplus
Additionally, California is working to set up its own bank, so that it won't have to pay so much interest when it borrows. Cut the banks out, and we all have more.
Paging Meridith Whitney...
More please...
Don't worry, Bill...I've got your back. Is 10% good for you?
Gotta love that Meredith and her macro calls. Like duh! Very bifurcated market. The good shit is
getting major bids while the rest hangs fire.
It's all Meredith's fault
JPM posted better than expected earnings. No worries.
Rockin! Wheres the need for QE?
Just decrease your loan loss allowances and, bingo, earnings look great. Bonuses all around, bitches.
bridge to nowhere , bitchezzzz!
While in the real news... SP : miss any payment on anything and you get downgraded.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-sp-to-us-any-missed-...
Standard & Poor's has privately told U.S. lawmakers and top business groups that it might cut the U.S. credit rating if the government fails to make any of its expected payments -- including Social Security checks -- even if it makes all its debt payments, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter.
OH, checkmate to petulant Obama, 'You miss any payments, we downgrade you'.
I am glad to see the sleepy ratings agencies suddenly alert and frisky like a pitbull now downgrading everything in sight after completely MISSING everything up to this point.
ALL ACTORS ON A STAGE...
There is better acting in porn.
That is what I hear.
[Doorbell rings, girl opens door]
Moody Steel: Hello, miss, did you order a ratings downgrade?
Pet Chulent: Why yes I did. Come on in.
Moody Steel: Do you want a long downgrade?
Pet Chulent: Ooooh! Really, I just want a little one until my sugar daddy comes back with another big stimulus package.
Moody Steel: Well, all I have is this AA.
Pet Chulent: Wow...it's so big and threatening. It's perfect!
Moody Steel: I thought you might like it.
Pet Chulent: Can you just wave it around without actually..you know...finishing the job?
Moody Steel: Well, we run the risk of making a mess of things, but I can give it a shot.
Pet Chulent: Let me open the curtains...I want everyone to see it.
Moody Steel: Well, aren't you a naughty little bitch?
[Cue music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fYfdlKIon4 ]
Good work here! It ends up a bondage flick, doesn't it?
That is SHOCKING coming from S&P.
Looks like the rating agencies have come to Jesus!
I would love to know what their ulterior motive is. There has to be one. There always is. There is no way they are doing this to actually be honest ratings agencies. As we all know, honesty doesn't pay very well in the world of the financial mafia.
It's simple. Wall Street wants to push Obummer over his reluctance to start looting 401k and other pension assets, so they have their (completely owned) rating agencies turn up the heat.
yep them and the banksters want it ALL NOW.
Never let a good cry go to waste.
Indeed it is. Maybe the elite has finally decided to destroy it all.
Don't send money, just more of the Governator.
Hey.. isn't that Mickey Rourke ??
Looks like Mickey Rourke, except not bizarre enough lookin. Like an 80's Harley Davidson and Marlboro Man Rourke.
Next SecofTreas???
Is that Harrison Ford? The sign now makes sense!
Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez
He's probaly just going to spend it fuel...
Are we at the point where the pirates turn on themselves and start killing and stealing each others loot because theres no one else left to plunder?
'We'll pay you back when we plunder the taxpayer more later in the year', yea right.
GTA 6: Austerity Edition
Not yet.. still have 401k, state pensions etc.. though the canabalism will begin soon enough.
California dreaming?
Did they not present a balanced budget recently?
I think the California dreamers just choked on a ham sandwich.
Couldn't they get some silver from Mexico? California should sue for recompense of all the money they have spent to house, feed and provide medical care for Mexico's citizens. I know the Pelosis of the world would hate it. That would make it even better.
The libturds that run Cali would let it go BK before cutting out welfare programs, especially for illegals. Liberalism, it's what's for breakfast. A mental disorder with a death wish attached.
that statement of clarity certainly did not deserve a junk.
Liberalism always comes with a price, which is generally the bankruptcy of the State; as well as the impoverishment of the children and grandchildren of the liberals who never saw a "problem" that couldn't be "fixed" with more deficit spending.
Let's just call it the NYTimes Syndrome.
This message brought to you by the PM of the Month Club.
"Clarity" through heavily-filtered glasses?
Mexico exports liabilities, not assets, they're hip.
The sunshine ain't shining in Cali
Even with this Bernankenstein rally
Their future's been spent
All their wealth has been lent
Add CA to the Oligarch's tally
Nice!
Kalifornia’s Position is funny
The future is no longer sunny
The problem you see,
It’s clear as can be,
They’ve run out of other people’s money.
+ gold (poetry) star of the day.
Bravo!!!
Heh. Good work.
If munis get downgraded to AA would all of the financial institutions have to sell them? I am guessing they would change that rule pretty quickly. It would be like the FASB 157 ruling. The rule would be changed to allow them to buy AAA rated offerings or any offering that was previously AAA and expected to be returned to such rating. If you aren't winning the game just change the rules until you are.
Very few AAA bonds left. Insurers not even AAA anymore, so never mind about that.
Check out Texas GO bonds.
how many times are you going to plug that?
I haven't been keeping count, but AAA munis can be had.
Was that supposed to disprove my statement? It doesn't.
<<< Was that supposed to disprove my statement? >>>
No.
<<< It doesn't. >>>
That is a matter of opinion.
Well just about the time to parade out more Ministry Of Truth officials on CNBC. That'll fix it.
And defaults for all. Got physical?
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/271732/2-billion-daniel-foster
“How much does the Biden plan actually cut from next year’s discretionary spending budget?” the Kentucky Republican asked the room.
Obama’s Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew told him, “$2 billion.”
'$2 billion' that really is a lolmao!
Serve me up a roofleburger
Cut all the discretionary spending and it won't matter a damn bit. Discretionary spending is less the 15 % of the budget. Totally fucking stupid. The big four have to be cut. Aside from default, there is no other option.
More like 35-40% of the budget is "discretionary" (which includes defense btw)
If you eliminated all the discretionary spending, you would see a surplus of 100 billion dollars. Along with millions of hungry, pissed, out-of-work, folks who are no longer getting milk off the government teat.
Bernank finds himself pushing the string on QE 'last gasp 3rd times a charm this time it'll work', wants to drive it forward but wheres any bad news?
Buy Texas GO bonds. They are safer than US Treasuries.
Junked for stating a fact?
A junk here is a badge of honor. Revel in it.
I get lots of junks when I defend muni bonds. The historical level of default on GO bonds in the US is exceptionally low. Texas GO bonds are about as safe as it gets these days.
Muni credits are specific, you are right. For 20 years MBIA, FGIC and AMBAC created the illusion that wasn't true. Buy side muni credit analysts went to sleep and disappeared.
I can think of much safer investments than bonds backed by sales taxes as we head into another deep recession. Just sayin'
How about water or sewer revenue bonds supported by a well-off community?
*supported by a well off community
"Well off community" key words, the city of Bell CA did that, they're slated for default.
The Texas economy could be crushed several ways, here's a few.
If federal environmental laws, air quality and water quality laws were enforced to the same extent in TX as they are in CA most TX businesses would be shut down, and Obama has his double barreled shotgun of Socialism aimed directly at Texas' head.
Texas is basically low hanging fruit for Obamastan, they can shut it down anytime they please.
If you choose your municipalites wisely, I would be surprised if your statement is true. The default rate on GO bonds in the US since the Civil War is exceptionally low.
I have been investing in munis since the early 1980s. The US has had three recessions since then (not including the 1981-82 recession), and I have never lost any $$$ in principal on munis. One might argue that real inflation has run higher during certain periods than the net interest I earned, but I never lost any principal.
Its probably Robo in a bad mood junking after getting poleaxed by Tyler last nite.
RoboChump is for comic relief. He/she was more entertaining when he/she posted saucy photos of women on this site.
I miss those days.....might have been reprimanded for surfing excessively on company time....those posts had to be a real time suck.
They've got Jerry Brown. His aura smiles and never frowns. THis won't be a problem.
There's always room for Jello!
Wait! Did you just quote the Dead Kennedy's?
California: One big Donner Party.
Nice!
When the SHTF I would't be surprised to hear about some canabalism.
California is the Citibank of states...
I make reservations at restaurants under the name "Donner", and then don't show up.
I just like to think of them saying "Donner party? Table for 6? Donner party?"
after reading about the pension lottery winner payouts , its not hard to understand that California is bankrupt
at least sunshine is still free.
They've got Jerry Brown. His aura smiles and never frowns. THis won't be a problem.
It's another beautiful California day.
Why bother with Wall Street?
Go straight to the source, China.
If the US can borrow from China, why not California?
oh yeah, that would be great... we're then on the hook to ship all our food produce to Shanghai...
This gets better every day. Gotta luv it.
California, the 7th largest ECONOMY in the world bankrupt, why doesnt this send shock waves thru markets like tiny Greece did? What a puppet show!
[What a puppet show!]---SheepDog-One
+1
The worse the puppet show gets, the worse the outcome.
The puppet show is finishing Act I.
California should have tried asking China for the bridge loan after all, they (San Francisco) are buying a bridge from China. I wonder if China will receive IOU's as a down payment.
Would that be a bridge bridge loan to nowhere?
Hu KNOWS!
What the hell does China need with Tibet when they can own Kalifornia.
Home of the most commies this side of the great wall!
"I wonder if China will receive IOU's as a down payment."
Sure why not, since all China has to offer is paper.
California in the 20th century was the perfect allegory for the U.S.A. 1911-- clean air, wide-open spaces, oil galore, citrus trees everywhere, the perfect place for a fresh start. Unfortunately, California in the 21st century is also the perfect allegory for America. Outside of the outer edges (far north, San Diego's tony suburbs, Monterey, Big Sur etc.)-- 2011-- foul air, crazy criminal gangs, insane traffic, Broke/Big Government, dying middle class, etc. etc. etc.
Heh heh... 2011, sounds like you are describing Detroit
Or Baltimore, or Philadelphia, or Springfield, Mass., or..... WHAT WENT WRONG?
those criminal gangs are not crazy, they were just AHEAD of the curve.
I would much rather be in a crazy criminal gang than wandering the
sidewalks looking for a Starbucks when the shit finally blows.
One suckers crazy is very rational from the other suckers view.
In fact if and when it all goes to hell the new nation will be in large
part born of them just as this country was originally born of
a criminal gang.
So, uh, MS-13 and the Nazi Berserker Biker Family or whomever will be our new Founding Fathers??? Hey, might be your cup of tea, but I'll take a pass, and stay on THIS side of the Great American Desert.....
There's no off-ramp for this bridge loan.
So which California is running out of moolah?
http://www.businessinsider.com/desperate-california-could-split-into-4-states-2009-5
gratuitous babe fotos on that link...
The one that contributes ~$700 per capita and spends > $2000 per capita...hint: not SF or Marin (which contribute > $4000 per capita and spend ~$600 per capita).
The Central Valley pulls its own weight, despite its poverty. Ditto the western side of San Francisco Bay. San Diego too. I'd guess that Los Angeles County, the East Bay, and that Meth Belt area around Bakersfield-Riverside are what drag the state down.
So did the first bridge loan have a gap that required a second bridge loan? Just california dreamin..
So amusing that a state with an SDP of $1.2T...where corporate profits have risen 400% since 2000...can't seem to balance the books, but at least we still have the incomes of individuals that have gone up 27% over the same period to plunder.
Any news about Minnesota?
Don't call them they will call you.
CLosed until further notice.
california has ALWAYS been a boom or bust state. They might be down right now but I would not write them off ever returning to boom times. Its not a question of IF but rather when.
I already called my Congressman (for whatever good that will do) and said if he votes to Bail out each state that cannot control their own spending then he will NOT get my vote.
If people will not pay for their debts why should the rest of America?
The absolute LAST thing california will cut is benefits to illegals and state pensions which is ironic since those two items are 90% of what ails them. The sacred cow of turning the other cheek to the millions of illegals there will remain untouched even as their proverbial keel slips beneath the sea.
It was classic California budget theater...
They've done it every year back to the days when Arnold was just a washed up actor grabbing titty...
I just love the smell of burning muni-bulls in the morning.
Shut.It.Down
Permitting California, and the US, to become non-White, well it has consquences.
People are NOT fungible.
For comaprison: Rhodesia now Zimbabwe, the old South Africa versus the new.
Whether Asian or Latin nations, their progress has been through our technologies freely given or stolen, and the deliberate transfer of US jobs to those nations as well.
Then you have the Minority Mortgage Meltdown which Holder is adding to that fire by threatening banks the other day. Looking back you will say to yourself: how did I let that all happen?
progress , like Haiti ....
but but um errrrrrrrrrrr you seem to be saying there has not been progress
among the darkies?
The office of Moody's CEO has gotta be an interesting place these days.
"revenue-anticipation note" ~ is this the latest toilet paper Ponzi scheme from the land of the fruitcakes and nuts?
the internet has alot of money... why cant we just give california some of that Amazon internet money
.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/165192/how-do-we-make-money-on-the...
128 comments and no mention that Moodies just upgraded us (California) three days ago!They said we were completely stable for two years. Yeah. They did.
You wouldn't want us to have a failed a bond auction. Would you?!
For those of you quick to inflame - this is dripping with sarcasm. They did upgrade us though.
And, just for us to know: what's the rating Moody's gave to Minnesota?
I think there are still 6 redwood trees left, and a couple ounces of unmined gold around Sutters that can be used as collateral for these debt inconveniences.
California: One big Donner Party.
This just in: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/14/BAL61KAHVQ.DTL&tsp=1
California economy fixed by those brave & bold politicos.
Same as always. Even staring at a speeding train now only 100 meters down the tracks, the predators refuse to CUT SPENDING.
Squash.
And good riddins.