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European Wipeout Continues: EURUSD $1.24 And Falling, PLN And HUF Plunging, Carry Unwind Accelerates

Tyler Durden's picture




 

As of early this morning, all of Europe is plunging, not just the euro but all non EMU currencies as well: the EURUSD was in the mid 1.24 range, the GBPUSD is about to breach 1.45, while the Polish Zloty and Hungarian Forint are tumbling. Guess who is up: Gold, surging by over 1.2%, and at $1,245 at last check. The LBMA attempt to contain gold has failed and the market is preparing for a second assault on the $1,250 big resistance, whose take out will next take gold to $1,500. And while Greece is striking again, now the European core is accelerating the squeeze of the periphery: Romania is slashing its government budgets by 25%, and its pensions by 15%, which has resulted in immediate protests. We expect to see many more signs that the Greek contagion is only now spilling over into the social sphere.

Here are the relevant currency heatmaps:

EUR:

GPB:

And the ongoing carry unwind:

 

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Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:47 | 351221 FischerBlack
FischerBlack's picture

Euro at 2008 lows. It has to be seen to be believed. Expect something big.

I am going to put on some big shorts on US equities today. And my trip to Italy this summer is getting cheaper by the minute! More panic, please!

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:49 | 351227 etrader
Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:52 | 351232 FischerBlack
FischerBlack's picture

I've always thought France to be the most likely to abandon the euro. They wouldn't do it, though, until they were able to get the Maginot Line back in place.

Vive le Franc!

 

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:59 | 351305 cossack55
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I wasn't aware it moved.  Or is it still facing west and they need to re-orient east?  Keep you're eyes on Belgium.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:33 | 351273 thegreatsatan
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what are the real ramifications of the frogs pulling out?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:24 | 351341 Anton LaVey
Anton LaVey's picture

The usual: French Francs go back into service and is promptly devalued vs the Euro, the GBP and the USD, giving a welcome respite to French economy. Until everyone follows suit, which would a couple of seconds later.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:02 | 351309 cossack55
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Don't forget to pack you're flame-retardent PJs.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:42 | 351223 MarketTruth
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Humpty Dumpty King Dollar is here, yet when the private member owned Federal Reserve falls off the wall it may happen breathtakingly fast and then... all the Rothchilds horses and all JPM/GS/Warburg/Schroder/Shipley/Lazard men can not put King Dollar back together again.

Got physical gold/silver?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:43 | 351226 primefool
primefool's picture

Will the ECB intervene - maybe at lunch time? On the otherhand if the ECB uses the swap line they would be working against themselves. To reduce Euro liquidity while increasing USD liquidity is what an intervention would mean. This would result in Euro bond yields going higher. So they can either have lower yields at the expense of the Euro or vice - versa. I doubt they will intervene in the currency for more than just a little fun at lunchtime.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:50 | 351230 buzzsaw99
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I doubt the ECB wants to use their swap line to facilitate the carry trade and dollar short unwind. They need a weak currency right now.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:54 | 351233 FischerBlack
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They need to start a short squeeze in sovereign debt and CDS. They need it yesterday.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:36 | 351249 buzzsaw99
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I don't think they can stop it. Let the tide run awhile longer and maybe they get a dead cat bounce but the writing is on the wall imo. [/cliches]

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:51 | 351231 Fix It Again Timmy
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On August 15th, 1971 the bonfire of currencies started to smolder...

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:54 | 351234 primefool
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I believe France also has a long and illustrious history of sovereign default. They also were the epicenter of paper money with the JohnLaw episode in 1720.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 06:57 | 351236 primefool
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A currency declining due to excess liquidity - is relatively easily cured. A currency declining due to structural fears is another matter altogether.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:00 | 351238 abalone
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Agree & thats why its premature to write off the USD especially when it's making new 52 week highs each day.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:20 | 351255 buzzsaw99
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Gold is crowing from the highest roost, the usd is a runny egg.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:46 | 351385 UGrev
UGrev's picture

But is it real? It's just getting stronger because the others are getting weaker. It's still outrageously inflated. If the highs meant anything, I'd be able to go buy .. say, food.. for what? 20% less on average? 

2 guys start out at 200lbs. Person B loses 50lbs. Person A now weighs more than Person B, but Person A hasn't changed his weight at all. Is person A heavier because he gained weight? /rhetorical. 

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 17:13 | 352716 abalone
abalone's picture

Big full green candle close up over 1%

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:00 | 351237 primefool
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This works out beautifully for the US. the main competitor the Euro is in a serious decline due to structural,existential concerns. Benny will be more than happy to try to weaken the Dollar with excess liquidity.

So US bond yields stay low. Europe does'nt have that luxury.

In a world with escess debt - the country that can maintain low interest rates wins. Countries whose bond yields are forced up - default.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:04 | 351243 primefool
primefool's picture

Here comes the lunchtime intervention. I guess traders in London and Paris actually take a break for lunch?!!!

Suspect the Euro hammering will continue once NY gets in. NY traders dont break for lunch. Lunch is for losers ( Gekko?).

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:20 | 351254 bb5
bb5's picture

This calls for some quantitative easing.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:26 | 351261 jkruffin
jkruffin's picture

I called it perfect last night 1.2575 pump,  then down to 1.24

 

Damn I'm good!

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:41 | 351262 youngandhealthy
youngandhealthy's picture

What is happening is that   "...For an extended period...." Language will be removed/altered in June, therefore we see the USD "carry-trade" unwinding right now.

Hence the Banks in US and Global alike has again persuaded Ben B to setup FX swap so that the big guys can get back to USD quickly. Forget about € dissolving it is just a trash story. It will never happened, and if it happened, well then it will drag the USD with it. No one wants that.

And when this €/$ pair correction is over, China will buy Euro debt big time.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:48 | 351294 AnAnonymous
AnAnonymous's picture

China buys US debt to get an access to the world market of commodities.

The Euro is an entry point to nothing, not even the EU inner market.

Why would China buy EU?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:04 | 351312 youngandhealthy
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Do you know what trade is? Contemplate that for a while and then come back....

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:16 | 351331 AnAnonymous
AnAnonymous's picture

What is trade? No, I dont know. Never been able to figure out an answer to this one.

I have an idea but it requires more validation.

In what way knowning what trade is influences the point that China will buy EU debt?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:30 | 351351 youngandhealthy
youngandhealthy's picture

US-China import: $296Bn

US-China export: $70Bn

EU-China import: $270Bn

EU - China export: $98Bn

And the EU area growing both in number of EU member states and trade. China need to balance their trade surplus with EU as well as with the US. Thats why.

This is not even close relatively to were it should be today. Maybe thats the worry and why we see all these outrages call of the demise of the € from the Anglo world?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:46 | 351290 godfader
godfader's picture

China won't buy nothing. They have their own problems. Their surplus (or what's left of it) will go towards fighting their own depression, not buying up ridiculous Spanish or French debt.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 07:47 | 351292 sunstreaker
sunstreaker's picture

The EU will do anything to avoid breakup. Countless bureaucrats in Brussel and the the ECB itself depend on the existance of the Euro. There is no one to stop either institution.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:07 | 351316 youngandhealthy
youngandhealthy's picture

You have countless of bureaucrats in Washington and Whitehall as well...that doesn't mean the USD project nor the Pund project will dissolve into California Pesos or Welsh Pund.

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:37 | 351364 ricksventures
ricksventures's picture

YEAH ! lets see that, but i agree Euroburocrats are like Russians when Hungary wanted to free itself from communism in 1956. They came and were willing to slaughter everyone who is against communism. Euroburocrats in Brussel would do anything and everything it takes to keep the casino rolling.

 

Also most countries still have plenty of folks who would not want to leave euro doesn matter the consequences just like in communism the local collaborators.

http://imaginarymuseum-archive.org/H56/LapingHungary1956.p103.jpg

 

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:18 | 351334 wintermute
wintermute's picture

The euro would bounce up sharply if one or more of the PIIGS is ejected and re-issues local currency. The euro will fall fast if Germany, Finland, Luxembourg etc pull out.

Practically speaking - the former scenario is more likely. 80/20 odds. ZH poll suggestion here...

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:25 | 351343 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

What? Goldman said to buy zlotys!! now what do I do?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 08:28 | 351349 ricksventures
ricksventures's picture

you buy zlotys fool, zloty in exact translation means "goldies"

and that's why goldman would suggest a buy of "goldies"

get it ?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 10:07 | 351550 metastar
metastar's picture

I love it. Where can I get more of these maps in the future?

Fri, 05/14/2010 - 12:17 | 351981 bingocat
bingocat's picture

What was the value of EUR USD on Jan1 1999 (the day the euro started)?

What is the 10yr average EUR USD rate?

What is the average of absolute maximum deviation from that number during any given year over the past 10?

Now look at how far would it have to go to get to one average maximum deviation below the current 10-year average?

If people have that number, why do they get so excited over a little froth?

 

All things considered, if the euro drops back to parity with the dollar (and that is not unprecedented - it went a similar distance the other direction several years ago, and anyone long the dollar in mid 1998 got a lesson too), who wins and who loses? The PIIGS become low-cost producers within Europe, HNWIs in PIIGS witness the power of home-country asset deflation firsthand, German becomes low-cost producer for high-value-add exports among global industrial powers, Germany sees higher growth than people currently expect, Europeans travel less ( except for the Irish who export tech workers once again), French unions work 40 hours a week, and 'les cheminots' work past 50.

Oh, and I forgot, Britain gets its anti-euro panties in a twist again because the pound won't be weak enough again.

Well... maybe I was exaggerating on les cheminots...

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