ratings

• FTW: Europe Stocks Rise as Data Signals Need for Stimulus (BBG)
• More de-escalation: Dozens die in Ukraine in street battles, Donetsk shelling (Reuters)
• Calm largely holds in Missouri after grand jury opens shooting investigation (Reuters)
• Attorney General Eric Holder Vows Thorough Probe of Ferguson Shooting (WSJ)
• World’s Biggest Wealth Fund Slows Emerging Market Investment (BBG)
• Market Chilly to Argentine Debt Proposal (WSJ)
• Israeli air strike kills three Hamas commanders in Gaza (Reuters)
• Retooled Hamas Bloodies Israel With Help From Hezbollah (BBG)
• Investors Pour Into Vanguard, Eschewing Stock Pickers (WSJ)
• Fed Debates Early Rate Increases (WSJ)

Presented with little comment... because if this doesn't wake people up to the unreality of the stock 'market', nothing will. Hertz has ripped higher 8 days in a row, surging over 18% in that period as analysts and talking heads piled on proclaiming how wonderful it is.. and then:

*HERTZ HAS DECIDED TO WITHDRAW 2014 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
*HERTZ EXPECTS TO BE WELL BELOW LOW END OF 2014 GUIDANCE

Must be a one-off idiosyncratic issue right?

Mainstream media business 'entertainment' appears to have been taken over by the #IceBucketChallenge, as they name-drop from CEO to CEO in the interests of ratings (as opposed to raising money for ALS). However, things took a much more serious turn today as not only did Alan Greenspan show us how he 'cools off' the economy but actor Vin Diesel issued the ultimate challenge to none other than Michelle Obama and Vladimir Putin...

Traders and market participants are pretty bad at decision making as it is, the last thing they need is inaccurate information via sensationalized and overhyped TMZ Style News reports to base their decision making process on.

This weekend’s “Things To Ponder” is comprised of a variety of readings that cover a fairly broad spectrum from educational to informative and even a little bit sarcastic.

"You give me this office, and in turn, my fears, doubts, insecurities, foibles, need for sleep, family life, vacations, leisure is gone. I am giving myself to you. The American people should have no patience for whatever is going through your head because you have a job to do. You don't make that decision unless you are prepared to make that sacrifice, that tradeoff. Those who make mistakes in the president's office make them because they haven't fully thought through the dimensions of that choice."

- Barack Hussein Obama

While Hillary explains that Obama is “thoughtful” and “incredibly smart,” the unannounced 2016 Presidential candidate had a few less than supportive words for the current Iraq-bomber-in-chief. In an interview in The Atlantic magazine, Bloomberg reports Clinton warns Obama lacks a specific doctrine, adding "great nations need organizing principles, and "don't do stupid stuff" is not an organizing principle."

Any Bond Idiot Can Buy into Fear, but they are Forced to Sell into ‘Good Times’!

What will it be this time? Grab your popcorn and tune in.. and don't forget, he "will not rest" until whatever 'it' is, is fixed...

Japan’s QE was large enough that no one, not even the most stark raving mad Keynesian on the planet, could argue that it wasn’t big enough. Which is why the results are extremely disconcerting for Central Bankers at large.

Alarm bells in the European banking system have been ringing for quite a while but nobody seems to be listening. The roaring capital markets are just too loud. But we have been keeping track of a few things.

As every 'real' corporate bond manager knows (as opposed to playing one on television), forecasting from historical defaults is a fool's errand as the process is entirely cyclical and non-stationary. The fact that default rates have been low for 4 years (thanks to an overwhelming flood of liquidity-driven demand for yield) is of absolutely no use when pricing discounted cashflows into the future. However, as Fitch warns, a jump in US high-yield default rates looms. There have been 10 LBO related bond defaults thus far in 2014, compared with nine for all of 2013. While most sectors remain relatively clam, the utilities and chemicals sectors are seeing huge spikes in defaults... which explains why the market is starting to price that in.

After an exuberant day in Argentine bond and stock markets, we are nearing a decision. With a handful of hours left until it's all over, various 'deal's have been proposed today from Argentine bankers as a last-minute rescue package. S&P has already decided that it's a done deal:

• *ARGENTINA CUT TO SD FROM CCC- BY S&P
• *ARGENTINA DEFAULTED ON $13B IN FOREIGN DEBT, S&P SAYS
• *ARGENTINA MISSED $539M BOND PAYMENT, S&P SAYS

And now, Argentine Economy Minister Axel Kicillof will speak in a press conference at country’s consulate in Manhattan (ironically a block from the holdouts' office).

Find the silver lining in this utter disaster... and remember, it's not moar of the same QQE as the BoJ is starting to hit its inflation mandate, misery indices are soaring, and approval ratings tumbling. Japanese Industrial Production in June fell 3.3% (almost triple the expected 1.2% drop) and the biggest plunge since March 2011 (the tsunami). This is the 10th miss in the last 12 months. Simply put, while the progressives would dearly love it not to be true, Abenomics is an epic fail leaving Japan readying itself for yet another lost decade (if it makes it that far without Abe going full militarist).

• The market in one sentence: Buying on Dips Pays Most in Five Years as Stocks Rebound (BBG)
• Europe subdued, Russia shares tumble on new sanctions (Reuters)
• Chinese Data Don’t Add Up (WSJ)
• Argentine Default Drama Nears Critical Stage (WSJ)
• Global Pressure Mounts on Israel to End Gaza Fighting (BBG)
• Ukraine troops advance as experts renew attempt to reach crash site (Reuters)
• Prospects Brighten for Republicans to Reclaim a Senate Majority (WSJ)
• Europe’s banking union faces legal challenge in Germany (FT)
• Investors Bet on China's Large Property Developers (WSJ)
• Hague court orders Russia to pay over $50 billion in Yukos case (Reuters)