"Banks Cut" - Merrrill's Pukes All Over Europe's Banks

As if Europe needed any more fuel to the raging fire that has seen Italy collapse (remember ASSGEN: stock is halted, and CDS is 270-280, 100 bps wider than where we recommended it), futures plunge, and French banks resume the position, here is Merrill's report titled, apropriately enough, "Banks Cut" in which Bank of Countrywide Lynch analyst Gary Baker, CFA explains why he is "lowering bank weighting to neutral." We expect a witchhunt focued on Gary, which will culminate with him facing a court martial and/or tribunal for daring to tell a few ounces of truth about Europe's banking system.

Summary:

Having hung onto a value argument for the banks sector YTD, our latest downgrade to global growth expectations makes it difficult to sustain conviction in this argument and we lower our sector weighting to neutral. As long as EU peripheral debt issues remain in the headlines despite the best efforts of the ECB, banks will likely remain a focal point for negative risk appetite and we believe this will weigh against optically cheap valuations and low investor positioning. This leaves us with defensive overweights in healthcare and telecoms and within cyclicals a preference for real assets- energy and mining- over chemicals and industrials. Our most recent sector moves have been to upgrade food & bev and downgrade autos.

Full report:

Merrill Europe Banks

Comments

[Dr. Engali]

Now that's funny.. BAC is about to go under and they are trying to say "look over there,don't look at us".

[ratso]

Right on.  Merrill is actually saying the they have been WRONG all along.  So what's new.

[RemiG2010]

Welcome to as Rahm Emanuel describes it 2011-2013 'F---nutsville'

[Downtoolong]

+1

[Crisismode]

Too little, too late.

Only smoke and mirrors prevail now.

[Re-Discovery]

Honchos at Merrill want BOA to die so they can be independent again.  They hate their countrified overlords.

Buying any gold dip with both hands.  Thank you CME

[Tater Salad]

Yup, however BAC too focused on selling CCB in a fire sale while the diamond gem of the Bank sits there ready to catch a bid at moment's notice.  Very surprised in their quest to raise capital that they didn't already punt ML as the brand would bring 25B+...?

I guess they realize their only revenues at all are coming out of ML and don't want to sacrifice their life line.

[ZeroPower]

5yr Sub CDS on BAC: 326/346 wider than during yesterday's
HF call.

Itxx Main, Xover at widest levels since 09 crash. Credit still telling the real story - feels like equities only catching up (slowly).

[williambanzai7]

May they all sink in the same sewer.

[salimmk]

rule 48activate

[FreeNewEnergy]

I'm lowering my banking sector weighting to flush, as in, down the toilet. Maxing out credit cards over the weekend. Let's see them cut my credit lines while they're all used up.

Oh, sorry, I can't borrow any more at 23%? Well, GFY then.

[AUD]

Ha, ha

I'm stealing that one!

[Sudden Debt]

Merrill LYNCHED... is that a +AAA bank?

[Downtoolong]

We expect a witchhunt focued on Gary, which will culminate with him facing a court martial and/or tribunal for daring to tell a few ounces of truth about Europe's banking system.

BAC probably started foreclosing on his house this morning. That seems to be their weapon of choice these days.

[Johnny Lawrence]

What the hell is "neutral" anyway?  Lowering exposure to "neutral."

[AUD]

Yeah, that's about as ambiguous a standard of measure as the dollar itself.

Only learned men could have thought of such a thing.

[sellstop]

UMPQ is on sale this morning. Earnings up last qtr. Dividend increase on the way. (rumor from a good source)

I own this one.

Sorry for the plug, but ....

I am struck by the lack of selling in the general market this morning. Yet!

http://ghickeyblog.blogspot.com

gh

[MFL8240]

Nuetral?  Whats nuetral about the banks in Eroupe and the USA.  The majority are insolvent if not for the accounting fraud.

[chinawholesaler]

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