This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

The European Death Spiral

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Recently, we presented and discussed one of the biggest issues for European banks: the urgent need to delever substantially (to the tune of over €2.5 trillion) by selling assets, in order to placate various regulatory entities that banks are solvent, and, far more importantly, the market, which has so far proceeded not to short banks into oblivion only due to the ongoing short selling ban, and to the explicit backstop from the ECB (and, indirectly, the Fed). However, since deleveraging into an deflationary environment will certainly require bank bailouts due to collapsing asset prices, the question is what the impact of bailouts on banks will be. And here Bloomberg's Yalman Onaran explains all too vividly how not even in ponzinomic finance is there ever a free lunch... even if bought with free money. "If the Southern governments put money in their banks, their sovereign debt will go up, exacerbating their problems,” said Karel Lannoo, chief executive officer of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels. “Then the banks’ losses will rise because they hold the government debt. That’s a vicious cycle. It’s hard to know which one to stabilize first, the sovereign bonds or the banks.”  And therein lies the rub, and the problem at the core of it all: when one is dealing with a continent and its insolvent financial system whose banks have underwater assets that amount to the size of the host nation's GDP, "It’s hard to know which one to stabilize first, the sovereign bonds or the banks." Recall that killing both birds with one silver bullet is what the failure that is the EFSF was supposed to do, by allowing sovereign debt rolls and fund bank nationalizations at the same time. Now that that hope is gone, all we have is the inevitable "death spiral."

The size of potential losses at European banks has scared away short-term creditors, squeezing the region’s lenders. The European Central Bank has stepped in to replace funds being withdrawn, providing unlimited cash and lowering requirements on the quality of collateral it will accept.

 

“We’re in a death spiral,” said Andy Brough, a fund manager at Schroders Plc in London. “As the yields on the peripheral bonds increase, value of the bonds decreases and the amount of capital the bank has to raise increases.”

And there you have it: a "bailout" of the insolvent banks by insolvent countries only shifts the balance, and redirects vigilante attention from either sovereigns to banks, and vice versa. Naturally, the longer there is no solution, absent wholesale defaults and massive losses by the status quo which is the only solution, the wider spreads for both entities will drift until finally neither Italy will be able to refinance, nor its banks, leading to an "out of control" freefall bankruptcy, that will have the most devastating consequences out of all possible options.

In the meantime, the only Hail Mary pass left is that someone will step in and buy the assets that are about to hit the market with the biggest Blue Light special since the winter of 2008, as suddenly every single bank rushes to market to catch the best bids into what will soon thereafter be a bidless market:

European banks have already announced 1.2 trillion euros of asset sales as they try to reach a 9 percent capital ratio by June, according to data compiled by Nomura Holdings Inc. The shrinking of bank balance sheets in the region may reach 3 trillion euros, Barclays Plc (BARC) estimates.

 

One European bank executive who requested anonymity because plans weren’t public said his company intended to comply with requirements of the stress tests by lending less in 2012. By giving the banks six months to comply, the EBA has provided a go-ahead for deleveraging, an EU official said, asking not to be identified to avoid interagency conflict.

 

The EU leaders’ agreement for tougher budgetary discipline coupled with banks cutting lending will cause a “huge recession” in Europe, AEI’s Lachman said. The result of the stress tests will be constrained lending, especially in the Southern countries, which will make their economic rut even worse, Lannoo said.

 

“North has fared well so far, but if the South derails further, then the North will trip too,” Lannoo said.

Needless to say, this one "death spiral" response leaves us quite skeptical, because try as hard as we may, we fail to see how one will find even a fraction of the €2.5 trillion in cash needed to purchase Eurobank assets without said banks, most of which are leveraged 30-40x, being forced to write down their entire equity tranche (very much the same way Dexia was one of the most successful banks in the most recent European stress test).

For those curious about the specifics of the upcoming devaluation, deleveraging, disposition and default wave, here is Morgan Stanley's recent analysis on just this topic.

 

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:12 | 1971609 Iliketurtles
Iliketurtles's picture

bullish??

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:20 | 1971633 Chris Jusset
Chris Jusset's picture

Ah yes, the dreaded "DEATH SPIRAL" ... aka ARMAGEDDON ...

 

But I would love to know how long this DEATH SPIRAL will take before the end arrives ...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:23 | 1971645 LouisDega
LouisDega's picture

Tomorrow. I will see you  in Hell Mr Thorne

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:25 | 1971657 trav7777
trav7777's picture

Delever and sell....to WHOM?  The Fed?  There's nobody with any fucking money to buy this shit and even if they did, why the hell would they buy the paper of bankrupt sovereigns??@!?!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:27 | 1971665 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

There's always someone to sell to, if the price is low enough...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:33 | 1971683 bob_dabolina
bob_dabolina's picture

"There's a sucker born every minute" 

-P.T Barnum

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:46 | 1971716 GCT
GCT's picture

The US taxpayers will fricking take on the debt.  Fed is probably already warming up the keypads. 

Europe will take a while to implode as more and more money leaves.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:34 | 1971794 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

Nazi moles deep inside british politics:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2072639/Tory-MP-Aiden-Burley-Naz...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3991724/MP-sorry-over-Nazi-sta...

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1211/breaking27.html?v...

A Conservative MP apologised today after reports he attended a stag party with Nazi overtones.

Aidan Burley used Twitter to reveal his “deep regret” at the “inappropriate behaviour” at last weekend’s bash in a French ski resort.

The Cannock Chase MP was eating and drinking with 12 friends, some of whom chanted “Hitler, Hitler, Hitler”, according to the Mail on Sunday. 

One toasted the “Third Reich” and another allegedly taunted a waiter for being French, the paper said.

Mr Burley tweeted today: “Deeply regret inappropriate behaviour by some guests at stag party I attended and I am extremely sorry for any offence that was caused.”

Today’s article claimed that rising star Mr Burley, a senior aide to transport secretary Justine Greening, was filmed at a restaurant in Val Thorens, sitting next to another party goer dressed in a black SS uniform and cap.

The newspaper quoted a French police spokesman as saying an investigation could be launched.

“Anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi crimes are taken extremely seriously in France. Anyone suspected of breaking the law in this respect can and will be prosecuted," the spokesman added.

 

Somebody ought to send  Mr. Burley and his buddies to prison for the rest of their sad pathetic lives.  That pic of David CommieRon is priceless.  What a turd.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:58 | 1971891 The Reich
Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:09 | 1971920 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

it would help if you used headlines on you articles so i knew what they were about.

Headline:

Article

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:31 | 1971991 Mr_Wonderful
Mr_Wonderful's picture

That´s corporate funded democracy for you. The more shitbags you get ekected the more attention you have to pay to them to keep them in line. Accidents will happen.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:48 | 1972052 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

Yeah, the accidents in this case where their parents didn't use a fucking condom.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:32 | 1971994 Chupacabra
Chupacabra's picture

*Unintended irony alert*  Throw someone in jail for life because one of their friends exhibited poor taste on a stag night?  Wow, bud, you need to take a deep breath.  I doubt even the actual Nazis were that hardcore.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:51 | 1972031 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

That bunch of idiots are Oxford educated british power elite. You are right, the guillotine suits them better.  They are thankful people like you find them harmless while they rape the sheeple in broad daylight. You didn't read the note. It was not just one moron dressed up as nazi dragqueen Himmler.  They all cheered and toasted the beast. The fact that they openly display their true colors is a reminder for all to see what kind of sociopaths these morons are.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:14 | 1972115 smiler03
smiler03's picture

Given the fact that Cameron had just officially told the Germans & the French to fuck off then it seems a very appropriate theme for a private stag party.

Unless of course you are strictly PC.

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 01:17 | 1972543 baby_BLYTHE
baby_BLYTHE's picture

@ahmeexnal 

in every post it seems you never fail to let the tongue slip on ur criticsm of Merkel, Germany, the Euro, the Deutsche Mark or anything else that may relate to the German dominate financial system that represents broad backbone of the European Union . I have to ask, are you Jewish and/ or continually bitter over the outcome of WWII???... Some of your commentary is very intelligent but other times you don't make sense with your responses

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:49 | 1971726 Comay Mierda
Comay Mierda's picture

all this bullshit analysis is a waste.   fundamentals dont matter anymore.  the market is dominated by HFT algos following textbook patterns and strategies.  just learn how to chart and think like an algo.  thats all that counts now

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:10 | 1971922 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

great comment and i agree about charting but fundamentals will have the last laugh

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:20 | 1971772 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Think of the EU *and U.S. banking systems as enormous, leaking hot air balloons.

The Merry Fractional Reserve Banksters keep supplying more and more hot air (fiat) to try and keep the balloons alift, but the holes in the fabric are extemely large, and getting larger for a variety of factors (tossed all about, whipped this and that way, passing through hailstorms, striking trees and barns and telephone poles and skyscrapers, etc).

The organic, private side economy is of no help in creating any 'lift,' because it's undergoing radical deleveraging thanks in part to the extreme recklessness of consumers, governments, central banks and the financial services sector over the past 40 years.

So, just to keep the seriously torn balloon from causing the basket to crash land, the central banks have to try and compensate for the massive leak of what was formerly provided lift from organic consumption via the use of massive amounts of credit that used to be provided by the private sector or quasi-public sector actors (such as pensions, etc  -e.g.  teachers buying MBS through their pension plans so NINJAs could be issued and homes built in Spain or Nevada - this went way beyond MBS, and worked the exact same way in every element of the economy varying only be degrees).

So, the central banks are now trying to float a system, and compensate for deleveraging on a massively historic scale, by merely pumping what they hope will be enough fiat into the  balloon, to keep it from crash landing and in a lame and tepid state of suspended animation, when the very issue that is leading to the crisis is the very system that fractional reserve banking, with its massive use of leverage of fiat currency (which is the hole in the balloon), has created.

While the central banks can float the wounded, balloons having gaping holes for a while, they can't control the economic weather (and they admit this) happening all around, which only contributes to a growing hole in the canvass that is the balloon's fabric.

At this point, it's no exaggeration to say that the central banks are trying to offset what is now underway; a deleveraging of 40 years of steroid and methamphetamine induced credit/debt leverage fueling consumption that they encouraged and assisted, with the private sector years (and maybe a decade) away from deleveraging enough (via savings or defaulting) to get back to the point where the weak are flushed out, and real demand has a solid foundation again.

It'd be better to let the damn balloon crash again, take the pain, treat the casualties on site, repair the balloon the right way (get rid of the fractional reserve bankers and their distributor network of crack cocaine, ala the Goldmans & JPMs), and get underway again with a rational group of actors who understand and embrace truly free market, capitalistic principles; this world be so far different, but vastly better, that few who would be able to recognize it, although almost everyone would be far better off in it.

 

And this entire process, folks, could have been foreseen with 100% certainty, from the inception of our economic system, or any economic system which uses fractional reserve banking principles as its foundation. No fact, twist (pun?), design 'tweak', or any other mutation of what is an inherently flawed and necessarily expiration date-stamped economic system will ever change this basic fact based on simple rationality.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:28 | 1971825 Hedgetard55
Hedgetard55's picture

I gave you a greenie w/o even having to read your post, cause you got common sense.

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 00:32 | 1971939 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

I forgot one critical point:

The more hot air (i.e. fiat) the Merry Central Banksters pump into the partially torn-all-to-ass apart balloon, the worse they actually compound the problems/crises of whatever is left of the organic, private economy, as they increase volatility, increase the propensity of more and more of those who are solvent to white knuckle their savings (due to uncertainty and lack of clarity), and because they're artificially mangling the price/demand curve and massively distorting capital flows and increasing malinvestment - in other words, they're just making the inevitable crash landing that much more spectacularly disastrous.

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 03:49 | 1973017 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

Given enough PSI (Pounds/Square inch), even a pinhole leak can cut off limbs!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:33 | 1972154 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

not always. i call it the "turn your nose up" moment. don't forget to add a hearty "ewwwwwww" and "how icky."

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:43 | 1971856 Mr_Wonderful
Mr_Wonderful's picture

Right. There´s not enough money in this world to bail this mess out and if it folds - short selling bans notwithstanding - major US institutions will go down the drain with it. Remember, the system insures itself against losses and failure with massive insurance contracts. This is leveraged out of the freaking universe. Greek haircut? This will affect huge insurance contracts. Italy? Now we´re talking real leveraged money, Spain big too and then there´s the rest of the PIIGS. It´s a very difficult situation and export-dependent Germany is in the middle of it. Of course they want a falling Euro.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:13 | 1971926 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

thee problm w/ the short ban is that if there are enough shorts on one side of a trade it can not only find fair price but trigger a breakout.  europe is dead to me now

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:35 | 1972163 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

Is that Lurch? Cuz if it is that would have been a great name as well instead of Mr. Wonderful. Not that i'm complaining about the name Mr. Wonderful of course.

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 04:09 | 1973026 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

That particular "Lurch" was Ted Cassidy, a very tall guy.

 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 22:12 | 1972444 Chuck Walla
Chuck Walla's picture

Soros is buying for pennies on the Euro. When its over, he'll forclose and own most of the continent.  He is he new Mr. Potter.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:59 | 1971754 GenXer
GenXer's picture

EUROGEDDON BitcheZ

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 21:13 | 1972243 masterinchancery
masterinchancery's picture

"Mistah Kurtz, he dead."

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:25 | 1971655 Odin
Odin's picture

Definetely bullish...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:43 | 1971855 Silver Bug
Silver Bug's picture

Europe and the West in general are in a deadly death spiral. Hang on to your Gold and Silver.

 

http://silverliberationarmy.blogspot.com/

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:13 | 1971928 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

no!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:13 | 1971610 Sardonicus
Sardonicus's picture

No worries.  Bernanke will solve it.

I wonder if he is behind all of these dumb things:  http://www.mysteryshoppingguide.com/

Probably directing people to buy Chevy Volts and funding etrade equity accounts that only have a BUY button.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:35 | 1971686 knukles
knukles's picture

Unbelieveable Testimony form Greek SuperShopper Testicleclese

I joined right away when I saw this tremendous offer.  The very first thing I did in 2010 was go to the local MickieyD's and stuff my ass full of Bacon and Greese Burgers with Extra Cheese and Vegitable All Natural Ketsup.  Feeling real good about myself I opened my E-Trade Account with the buy only button you mentioned and immediately set forth hitting it as fast as I could with the 120% margin option buying unlimited amounts of PHYS.  Which got me enough money to buy a brand new Chevy Volt which I drove for over 120,000 miles and then turned it back in for my full money back when I said to them that I was afraid of it catching on fire.  Let alone having an immeasurable amount of serious fucking quality defects and just being plain buttfuck ugly.  Now that I'm short the Euro out the wazoo with a 10X reverse ETWhatever all on the free margin again, I figure my next purchase will be the Royal Albert Hall, Holes and All along with a historical home in Belgravia.
I couldn't be happier. 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:13 | 1971787 Things that go bump
Things that go bump's picture

Does this mean I can buy that vacation home I've been wanting on the coast in Spain?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:48 | 1971869 Piranhanoia
Piranhanoia's picture

Only if you don't plan to live there.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:53 | 1971941 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

Maybe he enjoys mowing down those zombiefied spaniards with a gatling gun.

KISS ARMY would kick NATO's ass anytime!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:12 | 1972116 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

Time for the ECB to double down on lottery tickets.

 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:55 | 1972075 Calmyourself
Calmyourself's picture

Go ahead, just keep in mind I am buying Spain.. All your taxes go to me..

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 05:34 | 1973065 TruthInSunshine
TruthInSunshine's picture

Greek SuperShopper Testicleclese is going to get a serious case of gout and elephantiasis of the saks & ass if he keeps marching down the path of the 'buy, eat and drink first, think later if at all' stream of consciousness that's been imbedded into U.S. and U,K, Pavlovian Marketing, PLLC bred consumers.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:13 | 1971611 jcaz
jcaz's picture

That's right, Fed- keep throwing gas on this fire by issuing record amounts of nil-interest debt-  brilliant......

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:51 | 1971875 RichardENixon
RichardENixon's picture

They stopped throwing gas a long time ago. Now they're throwing rocket fuel. 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:41 | 1972022 hidingfromhelis
hidingfromhelis's picture

Yes, but if the flammable expectations increase, the rocket fuel can be withdrawn from the flames within 15 minutes.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 22:50 | 1972549 MonsterBox
MonsterBox's picture

and liquid oxygen.

burn, baby, burn

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:13 | 1971613 falak pema
falak pema's picture

Depressing for the financial community that "wildly partied" on this premise that the sun would never set; heart breaking for the plebes who will pay in blood the greed of their bankers and politicians. Now is the time for hand wringing recrimination; "it wasn't me, no, it was their fault; they the bureaucrats did it not I the banker. I only believed what they told me." If you believe that you are butter on their toast. 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:13 | 1971614 slewie the pi-rat
slewie the pi-rat's picture

it is almost as if the credit bubble were starting to...deflate...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:49 | 1971727 narnia
narnia's picture

the soverign countries have a massive imbalance in promises vs. ability to pay them (otherwise known as bankrupt).  the sovereign debt is worthless.  the banks holding the sovereign debt are remarkably undercapitalized to handle a sovereign debt crisis.  the bankrupt sovereign countries guarantee the deposits on the bank.

que abbott & costello to explain the point of this article.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:14 | 1971616 dick cheneys ghost
dick cheneys ghost's picture

Will it bring down Golman Sacks??????........thats all i care about

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:25 | 1971653 tbd108
tbd108's picture

You forget the Morque!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:50 | 1971730 Troll Magnet
Troll Magnet's picture

The Morque?  I knew those fuckers were French!  Take your french fries and go back to Canada, Franch!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:14 | 1971617 GOSPLAN HERO
GOSPLAN HERO's picture

Money printing is the final solution.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:21 | 1971640 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

Yea but thats now a 4 year old final solution, tried many times and here we sit still failed, so whats next?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:38 | 1971694 knukles
knukles's picture

Paul Krugman says that it hasn't worked because we haven't done enough of it, yet.
And Hunter S. Thompson said that it just wasn't weird enought, yet.

Which one do you think is the fucking psycho now?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:57 | 1971749 WonderDawg
WonderDawg's picture

Gonzo, bitchez!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:09 | 1971774 knukles
knukles's picture

Tee heh...
loved your comment the other day about awaking from a 20 year nap :)

Such a genteele way of putting it.  You delicate little flower, you.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:58 | 1972081 steve from virginia
steve from virginia's picture

 

You people keep forgetting about all that money on the sidelines.

... any minute now ...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:37 | 1972170 disabledvet
disabledvet's picture

That would be your money. From Effen Global. The good news is you're only guaranteed 250 grand when the bank implodes. NOW YOU'RE A FORMER BILLIONAIRE!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:34 | 1971624 The Big Ching-aso
The Big Ching-aso's picture

 

 

Europe's not down and out yet.   The Europa-dope plan is wearing down their opponents.

 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:16 | 1971625 YesWeKahn
YesWeKahn's picture

I think we kind of know the anwser: banks first as always.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:17 | 1971626 bnbdnb
bnbdnb's picture

Monetize.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:22 | 1971644 SheepDog-One
SheepDog-One's picture

So then keep doing what we have been doing for 4 years to no avail?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:26 | 1971661 Esso
Esso's picture

Why sure, SD1, it'll be different this time. Trust me.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:52 | 1971733 Troll Magnet
Troll Magnet's picture

It'll be different this time...Hmm...I've heard that before...Okay!  Let's do it!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:28 | 1971664 bnbdnb
bnbdnb's picture

Austerity today will cause massive civil unrest. Bombs, wars, etc...

I'm not advocating it, I just think its what they will do.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:42 | 1972025 Real Estate Geek
Real Estate Geek's picture

TPTB think it too, which is why the NDAA was passed.  Martin Armstrong has an extremely compelling take on the indefinate incarceration provision of NDAA, as one would expect.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:31 | 1971677 CPL
CPL's picture

You mean print and austerity measures.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:40 | 1971701 knukles
knukles's picture

M. Bernakowacko, set coordinates to go where no Modern Central Bank has gone before.
Print Ludicrous Speed.
Engage.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:48 | 1971723 knukles
knukles's picture

In space no one can hear you fart.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:29 | 1971827 The Big Ching-aso
The Big Ching-aso's picture

 

Tell that to my mother-in-law's rippers.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:20 | 1971631 Tsar Pointless
Tsar Pointless's picture

There is no means of avoiding the final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alternative is only whether the crisis should come sooner as the result of voluntary abandonment of further credit expansion, or later as a final and total catastrophe of the currency system involved.

Ludwig Von Mises, Chapter XX: Interest, Credit Expansion, The Trade Cycle, § 8 : The Monetary or Circulation Theory of the Trade Cycle

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:20 | 1971800 Things that go bump
Things that go bump's picture

I'll take final and total catastrophe for 200, Alex.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:52 | 1971878 RichardENixon
RichardENixon's picture

Don't worry, you'll get it. Just hang around a bit.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:22 | 1971637 Bam_Man
Bam_Man's picture

The ECB will continue to expand its balance sheet by lending to the TBTF European banks at 0.50%, who will then turn around and buy PIIGS bonds with yields of 6%+. The ECB will eventually accept ANYTHING as collateral. This is the most lucrative "carry trade" of all time and is how they intend to gradually re-capitalize the TBTF European banks.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:29 | 1971669 J 457
J 457's picture

Sounds familiar...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:42 | 1971704 Sir Real
Sir Real's picture

Bingo.  An Extend and Pretend twofer:

1. "carry trade" profits to infinity

2. run out the statue of limitations for financial fraud

Bankers will again.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:47 | 1971717 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

I'm thinking Bernie Madoff will get a Presidential pardon to help fix the economic crisis

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 21:21 | 1972273 masterinchancery
masterinchancery's picture

Problem is, that isn't what is happening.  And for good reason; the Piigs will default sooner rather than later, and then everything blows up.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:21 | 1971639 s2man
s2man's picture

Things that can’t go on forever, don’t - but they can sure take a long time about it.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:25 | 1971656 Tsar Pointless
Tsar Pointless's picture

The thing is, we - in this instance, "we" means "Amerikkkans" - believe 200 years is a long time. When in fact, 200 years is a pimple on a gnat's ass compared to other societies. Not to mention, the history of the universe.

So TPTB have been able to stave off the reality of complete and utter financial collapse for three years now.

Three years may be a significant amount of time to a creature that may only survive for 60-80 years, but it's nothing in the grand scheme of things.

We humans are merely doing what we humans do best - destroy things, and ourselves.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:01 | 1971900 Rainman
Rainman's picture

i approve this message

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:22 | 1971643 Long-John-Silver
Long-John-Silver's picture

So this is what the ancient Mayan societies were anticipating thousands of years ago.

Does Maya calendar predict 2012 apocalypse?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:37 | 1971691 CPL
CPL's picture

After I read that...I read up on what was happening with Snookie and her iPad.  GAWD it WAZ TOTALLY AMZIN!!!!

 

Don't ever post USA today...it's like getting spat at technicolour.  Can't even use it for fish wrap.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:44 | 1971707 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

I heard she lost weight, she's so hot right now...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:37 | 1971692 tbd108
tbd108's picture

I have made a minor study of this Mayan business and have concluded that they never predicted an apolalypse. This is just modern sensationalism. They predicted that there would be a change of "thinking" which would be a vast improvement of current affairs. In particular, a recent deeply respected interpreter of the prediction stated that there would soon be a "major financial paradigm shift." That seems very dramatic to me but there is no talk of "the dead rising from the grave, dogs and cats living together" and such.

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 00:09 | 1972722 Rakshas
Rakshas's picture

Follow me for I have seen these signs of which you speak...... dead rising from the grave....Newt Gintard..... dogs and cats living together...Eurozone - {though I expect this will turn into an episode of the itchy n Scratchy show soon} 

 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:46 | 1971714 knukles
knukles's picture

When they started comparing Y2K to the Mayan Calendar, I got lost.  Really really lost.
Must have been one of those had to have been there in both time spaces at once things.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:33 | 1972157 Lya
Lya's picture

well... after we saw zombie banks, why not ?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:23 | 1971648 MiddleageThinni...
MiddleageThinninghair's picture

Hello, I am writing again about considering owning physical dollars because I think people on this site need to discuss it rather than dismiss it as it is only fiat so worthless.

I am a believer in an honest money system, be it backed by gold or otherwise.

I think most people here have been laughting to hear about the rediculous rehypothication and the upcoming scrabble to claim the assest at the end of the rainbow.  In my layman knowledge of the matter I think this is smilar to the fractional banking system.  The rehypothicating of assests only a few times has brought out the deriding finger pointing.  The banks are leavered anywhere between 10 to 30 times for every dollar they claim to have.  And, think of the reset of the finanical system that maybe leavered 50 to 100 times.  If you really do believe things are going to have to be squared up at some day then I think that person should be estatic holding physical USD bills in their hand as the ultimate investment.  People in Latvia these days sure wish they had their money in their hands.

I think the saying "If your money is not in your hands, then it isn't your money" will be once again well recognized and understood.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:50 | 1971722 bob_dabolina
bob_dabolina's picture

Normally I overlook grammar/spelling because I am guilty of making mistakes. 

But god damn, this is just atrocious. If you're a foreigner I can understand that but if you're American this is pretty bad. 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:47 | 1971865 slewie the pi-rat
slewie the pi-rat's picture

the person to whom you are responding so resplendedly didn't post for 9 weeks, then comes around 2 weeks ago and posts every few days

so no wonder the blogger doesn't know what is being discussed here on a regular basis, even this morning!

but maybe language is a problem, even if the person is an american, so i would encourage ole middle_age_thinning_hair to hang in there and keep trying, because: 

yes!  owning physical FRNs is a fine idea, here.  you can't get anything for them w/out taking  risks so pull them outa the banksters' hands and into your own

by all means!

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:08 | 1972104 andybev01
andybev01's picture

(If I leave for a few hours I don't know what's going on in here...I need an aspirin)

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:58 | 1972082 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

He could be a multi Ph.D. american.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:48 | 1971725 sosoome
sosoome's picture

Half cash and half gold/silver (phys). Anything I have in the markets is "play money".

Sure. We could wake up one morning to find the $ de-valued by half...the gold would make up for it. We could just as easily go the other way with dollars becoming scarce. So sure, holding phys cash dollars is wise imo.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:07 | 1971773 Amused2Death
Amused2Death's picture

When the SHTF, no physical possession is going to matter, including PMs, maybe if you got something to hunt and defend with, but that's about it.  If you own something and someone sees you trying to trade it for food or anything else, you'll be the first target.  If you own something and the system is reset, who knows if it'll be worth anything, even it's nice and shiny...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:03 | 1971906 SilverRhino
SilverRhino's picture

who knows if it'll be worth anything, even it's nice and shiny...

6000 years of historical behavior is a pretty compelling argument that it will be.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:35 | 1972162 Calmyourself
Calmyourself's picture

Right, mud huts and Lord Humongous will be there in his mask demanding a pint of gasoline, using a loud speaker of course..  ONE PINT OF GASOLINE..  Take it easy Francis..

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:58 | 1971747 SilverRhino
SilverRhino's picture

Metals and cash.   In the first part of the reset you spend cash for two reasons.  Because even if credit cards / debit cards are no longer accepted people will take cash.  Also PM's and everything else (commodities) get hit in a deflationary spiral if paper currencies are the only thing accepted.   Eventually though the US dollar becomes completely toxic and that's when PM's come into play.

That's my line of tactical thinking anyway.  Good luck.

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 08:52 | 1973275 BidnessMan
BidnessMan's picture

Your tactical thinking is spot on - "People will take cash".  The sheeple will take a while to realize, accept and internalize that Federal Reserve Notes have an instrinsic value of zero.  The average person will have to go through a "Five Stages of Grief" to finally accept the death of the fiat currency system.  Of course 300M+ Americans will not be on the same time line.  There will be a bell curve of realization that fiat currency has intrinsic value of zero.  ZH readers are on the very left edge of the bell curve.  The average person will take fiat currency in return for valuable physical assets for a lot longer than you might think....   Paper currency has had value for all their lives. 

Tue, 12/13/2011 - 14:00 | 1974758 SilverRhino
SilverRhino's picture

Bingo.  

What they WILL not accept readily is the fact that with literally 95% of M1 being vaporized (we no longer take CC/debit cards) there will be a huge DEFLATIONARY pressure on their product in relation to market prices. 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:24 | 1971651 TheLooza
TheLooza's picture

where was the 3 pm rumor today? It didn;t fucking come and the markets still rallied into the close.  What a fucking joke.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:26 | 1971660 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

Markets rallied on a rumor of a rumor

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:31 | 1971675 J 457
J 457's picture

Did you not hear the NFLX rumors?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:39 | 1971695 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

That money must be burning a hole in Verizon's pocket.  Don't worry though it'll be gone soon enough, they can say Hi to Sprint on their way down

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:39 | 1971696 CPL
CPL's picture

What?  The one about it still sucking a bag of dicks and no movies?

 

Yeah I heard that one.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:45 | 1971712 willien1derland
willien1derland's picture

Well Verizon & Netflix logos DO SHARE the same color scheme...coincidence...(meanwhile Jim Cramer will use this EXACT PHRASE to sacrifice the hoard of retail investors to slaughter)

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:37 | 1972167 Calmyourself
Calmyourself's picture

Robo said something earlier about Dexia being recapitalized and Trav said its the "ethnic" guys fault..

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:54 | 1971740 gookempucky
gookempucky's picture

That was from re-hypothecated scottrade accounts.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:57 | 1971888 B-rock
B-rock's picture

Short-covering... That's all.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:24 | 1971652 Al Huxley
Al Huxley's picture

Monetize and save the banks - that's what will happen, regardless of the longer-term effectiveness, or side effects. And for anybody thinking that superior 'German character' and some sort of 'Kantian morality' will cause them to prevent this - their banks are fucked too, if there isn't a collective agreement to flood the system with money. Germany will fold to the bankers, just like the rest, and the losses will be socialized (now that the profits have long since been privatized).

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:25 | 1971654 Elwood P Suggins
Elwood P Suggins's picture

Get outta here.  Death Spiral?  Didn't you hear?  They just held a summit and Nicky & Angie said everything is fixed.  So there.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:31 | 1971676 Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa's picture

"spiral" sounds so peaceful. Not anything like a "crash".

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:47 | 1972043 Five8Charlie
Five8Charlie's picture

How about "Graveyard Spiral"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard_spiral

If the pilot isn't good enough to avoid getting into one, late pilot isn't good enough to get out (alive).

 

So, how's it going up there, Captain Bernanke?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:33 | 1971682 s2man
s2man's picture

Weeee!  EURUSD below 1.32 for second time today.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:34 | 1971685 urbanelf
urbanelf's picture

Europe has two options: 1) Print a tonn of money or 2) print a fuck load of money.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:52 | 1971734 SwimmininNawlins
SwimmininNawlins's picture

3.) Metric FuckTon

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:53 | 1971739 Falcon15
Falcon15's picture

I vote for "fuck load". Tons just do not cut it. Fuck load has chutzpah. It has moxie. I like.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:26 | 1971822 ForTheWorld
ForTheWorld's picture

They should just print $5T and deposit $5000 into the bank accounts of each and every citizen in the EU. See how that goes. I mean, it can't be any worse than printing it and just giving it straight to the banks, can it?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:36 | 1971689 crazyv
crazyv's picture

What Onaran misses in his article is that it is not that European banks can't raise capital but rather they can't raise it without massive dilution of existing shareholders and perhaps some of their preferred and subordinated debt investors. What the bank shareholders have lost is the ability to enter into sweet heart deals with their host governments that preserves some part of their shareholder value.

 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:40 | 1971699 junkyardjack
junkyardjack's picture

It feels like only two weeks ago when everything was fixed by all the central banks coming together to solve the crisis.  Boy those were the good ol' days...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:41 | 1971700 willien1derland
willien1derland's picture

No NOW is the time for the Ultimate Ponzi...first get MSM to spin the tale that Zimbabwe has discovered GOLD, Nat Gas, & Oil Reserves of unparallelled magnitude - every private investor that socialized their losses on unsuspecting taxpayers of the world rush their funds into the Frenzy...then the Zimbabwe Government begins purchasing all of the developed worlds assets - toxic & viable...This buys some additional time for Jon Corzine to be elected as the Grand Mystic Ruler of Zimbabwe & when it is finally established that there is no Gold, Natural Gas, or Oil, Corzine, well rehearsed from this MF Global performance can simply inform the world that he has absolutely no idea where it all went - considering it worked so well so far I am certain that the greater world will be equally enamored; then we can all laugh & begin again...</Sarcasm Off>

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:42 | 1971703 knukles
knukles's picture

I don't get the </Sarcasm Off> part.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:45 | 1971710 Dr. Gonzo
Dr. Gonzo's picture

No deflation for butter. It costs $500 a pound in Norway.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:39 | 1972175 Calmyourself
Calmyourself's picture

Me and Bessie hopping a Delta flight tomorrow, I'll be rich...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:45 | 1971713 crazyv
crazyv's picture

Are not the issues relating to rehypothication much nuanced than some here have tried to potray it?

 It seems to me that at the start of the chain you have some investor who has invested in some kind of asset that is being held for his/her benefit by some brokerage house. The brokerage house takes those assets out of the investors account and uses that as collateral  for a loan. It seems to me that the problem here is not in the pledging of the asset by brokerage firm but rather that the brokerage house has subsituted its unsecured IOU in place of the collateral that they removed investors account. Had they replaced the collateral with like collateral or cash there would not be a problem. The problem it seems to me is a very limited one- brokers should be able to force their customers to effectively become unsecured lenders to them.

As to rest of the chain assuming that it is alway collateral for cash -what difference does it make how long the chain is? There is a credit risk associated with each of those transaction but so what. How is that any different from Bank A making a deposit with Bank B who takes the funds and deposits them in Bank C?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:47 | 1971720 AldoHux_IV
AldoHux_IV's picture

You can only shift the risk for so long before realizing 2 things: default or demand more currency unity.

Here's hope that no politician will attempt to solve the crisis by coming up with a world currency and demanding all sovereignty and more rights be thrown away in the fight to keep an insolvent system up.

Here's more hope that we smarten up and realize we don't need the current financial ponzi that is the global financial system nor their central planning genocidal maniacs: banks, central banks, IMF, Worldbank, and any other central planning institution.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:59 | 1971755 sitenine
sitenine's picture

+1 for a good comment, but -1 for using the word hope.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:49 | 1971728 Darkness
Darkness's picture

 

How can I get as much leverage as the financial institutions? My 3x Bull/Bear ETF's just arn't enough!

 

And if they are printing the money and giving it out, where do I sign up to get some?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:50 | 1971731 midgetrannyporn
midgetrannyporn's picture

bonuses for the bankers

austerity for the rabble

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:57 | 1971751 topcallingtroll
topcallingtroll's picture

I still havent had any hot midget sex. I think I wasted my money on littlepeoplemeet.com. not enough midgets in my area.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 19:05 | 1971910 vamoose1
vamoose1's picture

forget midgets,   take a shot at a widget

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:52 | 1971736 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

Urgent: The European Parliament to convene tomorrow to discuss imposing a no-fly zone on Syria - PM

PANIC TIME...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:02 | 1971763 SwimmininNawlins
SwimmininNawlins's picture

Source?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:07 | 1972097 Ahmeexnal
Ahmeexnal's picture

stupid genocidal maniacs

 

And this is now a fucking joke. Ogolfer demands iRan to return the captured drone:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8952147/Barack...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:29 | 1972145 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

He's gone full retard.

You never go full retard.

 

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:33 | 1971782 sitenine
sitenine's picture

So, yeah, what's the thought process on this alleged event anyway? Something like, "if we are going down, you're going down with us", or maybe something more along the line of, "we won't be able to afford this if we wait much longer", or how about, "fuckit, we're all doomed anyway"? Stupidity really knows no bounds here does it? But since there is no solution to the endless fraud and theft ponzi, I guess it's fairly easy to surmise just exactly where we're headed next...

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 17:53 | 1971738 topcallingtroll
topcallingtroll's picture

Looks like the only way is to nationalize greek banks.
Anyone holding greek assets is totally Stolpered anyway.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:04 | 1971741 homer8043
homer8043's picture

This web site basically tries open up 145 IQ concepts to 130 IQ or so. It's not a dumb site. There are trading strategies that are beyond me on quick glance. The point is, open up your eyes!!!!. The people who have power do not exercise power benevonetly. The powerful cast scenarios for the US while losing ascendency.

And I may add not losing any semblece of democracy.

The klepto-corptocracy has taken care of that.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:00 | 1971757 Freddie Krugerrand
Freddie Krugerrand's picture

Unfortunately, it looks like gold is one of the assets they're selling.  :-/

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:11 | 1971785 knukles
knukles's picture

Delivery time for gold and silver.....
It's not nice to fuck with the COMEX vaults.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:02 | 1971764 Scalaris
Scalaris's picture

Mexican Ponzi Standoff Time

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:31 | 1971833 CPL
CPL's picture

You bring five friends each to the gun fight...and they bring five more friends to the gun fight? 

 

When does diamond happen again?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:15 | 1971792 non_anon
non_anon's picture

death spirals, bitchez

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:42 | 1971804 bob_dabolina
bob_dabolina's picture

O/T but kind of a big deal 

Rx #4 in Fukushima has started falling apart (photos)

http://enenews.com/report-confirmed-wall-reactor-4-lost-south-side-photos

This was a worst case scenario. 

Jim? Aristarchan? trav?

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:22 | 1971815 nzljohn
nzljohn's picture

This all reminds me of the scene from "Dumb and dumber" where they take money from the suitcase and leave IOUs in it's place. It seems that the 2 stars in this film are the same as the bankers.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:27 | 1971824 miker
miker's picture

Okay you dumbshits......here's what will happen.  TPTB will let the European stock and bond markets continue to sell off; but particularly the German market.  It will go down and down until the pain will be too much to handle.

Then the ECB wills step in and backstopo the bond market in a big way.  At the same time they will sort of/kind of indicate their willingness/need to monetize but not get too direct on that point. 

You see the Germans are terrified of this shit and need a little dose of medicine to come around.  The US stock market will sell down some too, but not near as much as the DAX.  The Fed controls this puppy as long as the selling doesn't get too crazy. 

After the ECB moves in, the Fed will also announce another round or QE easing, as early press releases indicate.

Will PMs respond?  That is the big question.  They are getting smacked down big time during this turbulence and of course the Central Banks want to keep them down.  I have no clue on the outcome so I have not (and do not recommend) bet the ranch on PMs.  Instead, I'm mainly inl cash, some PM closed funds (Sprott) and some physical at the house.  If any of you think you can trade this fucking mess; have at it.  But for me, principal protection is key.

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:29 | 1971830 tony bonn
tony bonn's picture

"It’s hard to know which one to stabilize first, the sovereign bonds or the banks."

this question is proof that fucktards are running the show (or their evil twin sister kleptotrina).

the bad debt should be liquidated and the banks whose books are so impacted should be liquidated next.

but that is not going to happen because bad money will be thrown after bad to save the crapulent banksters....

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 18:42 | 1971845 Duffminster
Duffminster's picture

The real reason Cameron doesn't want to go along with the treaty change and that the ECB doesn't want stuff its balance sheets with toxic debt, which can never be repaid, is because the London Money Centers and Central Bank are in Bed with the Rothchilds, JP, GS and the Federal Reserve in the biggest form of legalized stealing ever and the treaty would have shut this down. In a recent article by Thompson Reuters by Christopher Elias of the UK division in an article entitled: "MF Global and the great Wall St re-hypothecation scandal:

"...Under the U.S. Federal Reserve Board's Regulation T and SEC Rule 15c3-3, a prime broker may re-hypothecate assets to the value of 140% of the client's liability to the prime broker. For example, assume a customer has deposited $500 in securities and has a debt deficit of $200, resulting in net equity of $300. The broker-dealer can re-hypothecate up to $280 (140 per cent. x $200) of these assets.

But in the UK, there is absolutely no statutory limit on the amount that can be re-hypothecated. In fact, brokers are free to re-hypothecate all and even more than the assets deposited by clients. Instead it is up to clients to negotiate a limit or prohibition on re-hypothecation. On the above example a UK broker could, and frequently would, re-hypothecate 100% of the pledged securities ($500)...."

Now we can't have Merkel and Sarkozy interfering with this highly profitable and totally legalized robbery can we?   Duffminster

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 20:29 | 1972147 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

Great site--great must-read article on MF-Global. Thanks!

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!