Australia

Iron ore prices, which have fallen by 24% in the past month, have been front and center in our views on the China debacle recently. Following the RBA's decision not to cut rates last night we thought Macquarie's recent insight into just how bad an impact a sustained weakness in demand could have on the Australian economy was worthwhile, as hope seems to remain that the destocking among Chinese steel mills will end at some point and demand will re-emerge phoenix-like (though we strongly suspect not). The relative resilience of the AUD suggests that most investors believe that iron ore prices will recover over the next few months. But if they don’t then this could be the 'Wile E. Coyote moment' for the AUD, as GDP drops 3ppt, unemployment rises 4ppt, and busienss investment is slashed 20% below consensus.

Yesterday we dedicated significant space to the most recent piece of perfectly ludicrous propaganda out of the ECB, namely that monetizing debt with a maturity up to three years is not really monetization but is instead within the arena of "money market management" (images of Todd Akin defining when something is 'legitimate' and when it isn't swimming our heads). The implication of course is that debt under 3 years is not really debt, but some mystical piece of paper that nobody should be held accountable for. Hopefully all those consumers who have short-maturity credit card debt which nonetheless yields 29.95% APR are made aware of this distinction and decide to follow through with Mario Draghi's logic, which is about to take the war of words between Germany and the ECB to the next level. Sure enough, this is precisely the news item that is dominating bond risk markets this morning, if not so much futures, and sending Spanish and Italian 2s10s spreads to record wides on hopes Draghi will definitely announce some sub 3 year monetization program for the PIIGS. Bloomberg summarized this best last night when it commented on the move in the EURUSD, since retraced, that we now have speculation Draghi's move will bolster confidence.  In other words: the market is now hoping there is hope. Sure enough, even if Draghi follows through, for the ECB to monetize Spanish bonds, Spain still has to demand a bailout, which however is now absolutely out of the question as mere jawboning has moved the entire highly illiquid curve so steep Rajoy (and Monti) have absolutely no reason to hand over their resignations (i.e., request a bailout). And so we go back to square one. But logic no longer matters in these markets.

More on China kleptocracy.

In Rome, the main post office is in a majestic old building with imposing architecture. It was a procession just to buy a few stamps. Stand here, stand there. Take this ticket, fill out this form, print that form. What should have taken 10 seconds took 10 minutes;  the process it took to get there was a real eye opener. They have all these fancy IT systems, but we get the sense that this ‘technology’ just gives the post office a veneer of modernity and sophistication without actually being necessary or adding any value. This is typical of bureaucracy: take a simple task, make it unnecessarily complicated, then spend a bunch of money on technology that makes it even more complicated. Given this experience, Italy has clearly mastered the art of unnecessarily complicating the simple. It’s no wonder they have serious problems paying the bills. Moreover, the country’s demographic challenges indicate the country’s fiscal situation cannot improve. Robust economies are productive… and productivity is typically not associated with the elderly. Italy has one of the world’s oldest populations concurrent with one of the lowest birth rates. This trend drives an unsustainable fiscal quandary: bloated public sector bills with lots of old people to pay pensions to, coupled with a rapidly shrinking population devoid of young workers to pay taxes.

At this point, there can be little doubt that Italy will exit the eurozone... most likely voluntarily. A return to the lira means the Italian government (probably to be headed by Berlusconi once again) would be free to print currency at will. This is the only reasonable solution remaining. When will it happen? Probably sooner than we think.

My blood pressure is up, my nails are bitten down to the quick, I haven’t slept in days. I’m ready for Ben.

While last week's surprise announcement that GM was desperately seeking up to $5 billion in additional cash through a new revolver (meaning the administration's pride and bailed out joy, Government Motors, is once again burning far too much cash and that channel stuffing only pays in porn movies) took precisely nobody by surprise (at least not anyone who has been following our 2 year long series tracking AOL GM's dealer inventory warehousing habits), a far more sinister cash need has developed a very short time ago in a continent far, far away. Because while we have also noted the collapse in steel inventories and iron ore prices , which have recently imploded to 3 years lows as the Chinese hard landing, no longer maskable or avoidable, is finally sending shock waves around the world, as well as what these mean for a world that is sliding into a deep recession, promises by various impotent central bankers notwithstanding (see here, here and here), so far this wholesale collapse in the iron market had not translated into discrete events at the corporate level. Until now that is, because that second derivative of the "Chinese economic miracle", Australian hyper-levered iron ore miner, Fortescue, which is the fourth largest in the world, and is also the kangaroo in the iron ore mine for not only China, but Australia as well (and with a cornucopia of junk bonds in its balance sheet, a massively levered one at that) just telegraphed to the world that it is in desperate need of cash. According to Bloomberg, Fortescue Metals Group has approached about 20 banks as it markets a $1.5 billion loan in syndication, according to three people familiar with the matter.

A Round Up of today's articles. In audio summary!

It's a party in your mouth. Just don't choke.

“If you receive the memo” about radioactive contamination, “don’t send it to us.”

Will Steve Keen be proven 'early' and correct? We suspect so; and the following infographic from DebtConsolidation.com.au provides some more compelling evidence of the growth of the Aussie housing bubble and its geographical diversity (and should you consider a trade on the back of this - Australian bank CDS are trading near 12-month tights).

• Ringing endorsement: Lithuania to Adopt Euro When Europe Is Ready, Kubilius Says (Bloomberg)
• Credit Agricole net plunges 67% on losses in Greece and a writedown of its stake in Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (Bloomberg)
• Europe finally starting to smell the coffee: ECB Urging Weaker Basel Liquidity Rule on Crisis Concerns (Bloomberg)
• Japan Cuts Economic Assessment (Reuters)
• France’s Leclerc Stores to Sell Fuel at Cost, Chairman Says (Bloomberg)
• China Eyes Ways to Broaden Yuan’s Use (WSJ)
• Berlin and Paris forge union over crisis (FT)
• Brezhnev Bonds Haunt Putin as Investors Hunt $785 Billion (Bloomberg)
• Republicans showcase Romney as storm clouds convention (Reuters)
• ECB official seeks to ease bond fears (FT)
• German at European Central Bank at Odds With Country’s Policy Makers (NYT)

There is a glaring divide between the G10 and Emerging Market economies in terms of what monetary easing is priced in - and what is not. Specifically, as Citi notes below, traders 'expect' the US, Europe, and Canada all to be tightening (raising rates) within 18 months, while expectations are for Australia (and the rest of the China-reliant nations across Asia) to see notable easing in that period - and already priced in. Brazil is the standout as far as 'inflation' fighting rate rises just as Eastern Europe is priced for the most 'easing' of rates. It seems clear that not every stimulating headline has the same value with this much EM easing priced in already - and hope priced into DMs.

Up to his neck: the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia—the latest in a series

I have to admit, I am pretty sick of writing about Europe, particularly since nothing has changed over there in the last month.

Instead what’s happened is that Mario Draghi issued a borderline ridiculous statement that he somehow will be able to fix the EU’s solvency Crisis.

The actual speech started with a philosophical inquiry comparing the Euro to a bumblebee. I kid you not:

• Australian minister says resources boom is over (Reuters)
• China dismisses reports of lost gold reserves (China Daily) - so China really did lose 80 tons of gold.
• Inconceivable: Former JPM CEO and Chairman William B Harrison Jr come out "In Defense Of Big Banks"
• Qantas Cancels 787 Order After Posting Annual Net Loss (Bloomberg)
• EU Official Says Crisis is Eroding Influence (WSJ)
• Greece Faces New Pressure on Cuts (WSJ)
• Philippines' black market is China's golden connection (Reuters)
• Hollande government responds to criticism (FT)
• LG Display Starts Touch Screens Output Before New IPhone (Bloomberg)
• Greek Crisis Evasion to Fore as Merkel Hosts Hollande in Berlin (Bloomberg)
• Stakes rise as US warned of double-dip (FT)
• Brazil’s Richest Woman Unmasked With $13 Billion Fortune (Bloomberg)

Even the strong falter. As the dynamics within this global economy become more severe, the strengthening local economies find it more difficult to remain on course. The situation in Australia is that the country’s currency appears to be overvalued which impedes their ability to compete in the global market place.