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As First Greek CDS "Anstalt" Appears, A Question Emerges: Did Banks Not Square Off Margins?
The irony is not lost on us that Bloomberg is reporting that KA Finanz, an Austrian bad-bank supported by the Austrian government, faces as much as a €1 billion need for funding to cover its exposures to Greek CDS (coughcreditanstaltcough). In a statement this morning, which we noted in a tweet, the bank noted "activation of the CDS with an assumed loss ratio of about 80% would mean an additional provisioning charge of EUR 423.6 million". KA Finanz's total amount of Greek CDS exposure is around EUR1bn. What is shocking and should be of great concern is that we have been led to believe that very little net cash will change hands on the basis of the $3.2bn net aggregate market exposure. This was based on the now false premise that variation margin was maintained and transferred throughout the process (as we note below from recent IMF filings). What appears to have happened is that dealer to dealer variation margin has been, let's say, less rigorous as perhaps all collateral was netted up across all exposures (or simply ignored on the basis of government backstops). The far bigger question then is: are banks simply marking ALL sovereign CDS at par, and not paying off cash to other dealers? Remember it only takes one counterparty in the chain to turn net into gross and quality collateral seems tied up a little right now at the ECB (or with margin calls).
And then this from KA Finanz' 2011 Interim Statement:
Supplementary to the measures already taken by the European Union and the IMF (International Monetary Fund), the measures now initiated are expected to permit a sustainable stabilisation of the Greek budgetary situation. Moreover, statements made by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) suggest that the measures described above will not trigger a credit event of credit default swap (CDS) portfolios. In view of these circumstances and given the measures already taken and now extended by the European Union, KF does not expect – from today’s point of view – a default of loans and advances to the Republic of Greece.
KF’s total direct exposure to the Greek state amounts to EUR 818.6 million; moreover, the bank holds government-guaranteed bonds of EUR 164.6 million and government bonds of EUR 636.2 million. The issue of programme participation only arises for securities maturing by 2020. As of 30 June 2011, this portfolio represents a book value of EUR 311.5 million, of which EUR 303.1 million is, however, locked in until maturity in repo-type TRS (total return swap) funding positions. Under civil law, these positions have been sold to third parties against inflow of liquidity; the underlying risk remains with KF through a CDS structure.
So it does. And surprise, Surprise: so until the bank assumed there would be no CDS, it decided not to daily variation margin its exposure. And only now it has to? But, but, ISDA said "what was decided today was anticipated and had been decided for quite a while." Did KA not get the memo to pay its counteparties when it had to at the end of trading every single day?
Surely KA is all alone in flagrantly circumventing the primary requirement in posting cash shortfall margin.
Surely.
Oh, and congratulations Austrian taxpayers, you are the latest ones on the hook to pay US hedge funds and banks for the privilege of Greece defaulting.
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Something smells fishy.......
The arrogance of banksters astonishes me. It seems like anyone who is indoctrinated and gets a "position" overlooks many of the obvious things as long as others suffer. That is until the day they bring their own house down.
So, are we good?
Yeah, we're good.
Great, see you and Randi at Skip's tomorrow night. I'm bringing a case of Cristal.
That's fine, but are only banks on the inside holding?
Most likely, yes.
nothing to see here kid, move along...
We really shouldnt piss off Austria here. It ended very badly last time.
Embarrassing bounced check from greece taped up at imf headquarters
http://www.theonion.com/video/embarrassing-bounced-check-from-greece-tap...
Mamma Thong always said "The devil is in the details".
That was the entire purpose of this whole Farce
+1
all the doomers with their canned hams and silver bars hiding under their porches must be sorely disappointed that the world hasn't ended. Everything is still running
I don't have a porch, and I don't hide or eat canned ham.
Remember, trav, just because the water's moving faster and there's a sound that's getting louder, it doesn't mean there's Victoria Falls ahead.
It might be just Niagra.
or the iguazu falls. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls
wonder if some of the truly "bad banks" will try a corzine to pay the, unexpected, cds that are net until they're really gross.
Beautiful. I googled images and it was a real treat.
KA Finanz as in KreditAnstalt and KA-BOOM Finanz. In the 1930s, all the countries east of the Rhine River defaulted on their bonds. It was called the Rhine Syndrome. Who knows what the next global depression will cause the sovereign bond defaults to be called? The Grecian Formula?
Denmark, Sweden... they're east of the Rhein... did they default?
DEFAULT BITCHES.
Default, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves..
March 9th marks new events and stuff yet to come
Can't wait for the Ides....
The far far triple far bigger question is "What ECB collateral?"
Remember it only takes one counterparty in the chain to turn net into gross and quality collateral seems tied up a little right now at the ECB.
The ECB's only collateral, and correct if wrong, in this whole pig n a poke, like the wad of Greek bonds laying under a street lamp bound to a string that leads into the shadow .., is the full faith and credit of the ECB. The ECB is making loans to member banks so they can buy Greek bonds. The only thing underlying the loans made to ECB member banks is the word "Guaranteed by the ECB" stamped on the confirms.
Ya can't buy a Big Mac Double Fry with an ECB promissory note - so has the benchmark for "quality collateral" been redefined to include an empty cash drawer with only an ECB Guaranteed IOU?
The geeky vixen mc-ing RT's Capital Accounts just cited ZH. (btw - RT is included with a Dish Network subscription - no mas Freedom Watch and the obviousness of the Rat Rattigans pandered news speak leaves the boob tube spectrum pretty darn lean these days.
these times will sorely test faith, full and less so.
as for credit, it's getting to be a matter faith too, really.
Gold traded in a 40$ range today. As of post, the 24/Hr spot just ticked it's highest. It's low, of course, was around this morning's FTSE close, and, despite a strong USD demand relative the EUR for most of Friday's market.
The manipulation and market rigging by central bank printing is in plain view - they're not even making an attempt to hide it.
Change with extreme prejudice is the only option for change the MIB will accept - they ain't gonna go easy. They think themselves invincible.
It would be cool if a national boycott, for example, cable TV would stir their survival instincts. General Strike harder to do. Anything nonviolent to shutdown the flows would work. How to get the 99% percent to go along with it is the problem.
Tell'em American Idol was moved to UHF channel 84...
Just wait for the $100 trillion in bailouts needed to cover the rest of Europe's CDS. Only political will is going to bring this house down.
" It seems like anyone who is indoctrinated and gets a "position" overlooks many of the obvious things as long as others suffer. That is until the day they bring their own house down."
This method you describe has been the standard operating procedure for much of the "economy" for years now. No wonder it's falling apart.
"Spain says there has been some misunderstanding with Brussels on budget
- expects statement on Monday from Euro-Area finance ministers"
And..........fail.
LOL...they didn't even wait for the corpse to get cold over in the Aegean....
I tootally didn't know about this one, so if they werent paying the daily then almost all the rest may have also.
That's my fish sandwich for Lent. Sorry!
So who made the AIG CDS mistake...?
No mistake. Once the bank cartel realized that AIG was being protected by the FED, it became a feeding frenzy. Notice that it is the Austrian taxpayer who is footing the bill for the CDS exposure and not the bank cartel. I mean if Goldman had to payout, I am quite sure that the Geithner would be on his way to congress right now talkinga about a potential Mad Max outcome.
I don"t think he has to. Aren't all the banks derivatives backed up by the assets of their insured depositors' accounts?
The old Bank of American switcheroo? Sure, what could possibly go wrong there?
Let's see, there's $200T plus in derivatives at the 5 biggest/incestuous US banks against $9.8T in total bank dep at ALL 7,000+ US banks. Even on a NET basis, that turd wont flush even if they stole every last dime of depositor money....which they just might. Jig's up boyz.
*cough* vagisil *cough*
Even the Algo's haven't been programed to make heads or tails out of this info. The market is like a deer in headlights
Market just dropped negative.
And this my friends...is going to be a very long weekend.
Remember 2009 was all 'high drama over the weekends' where the weeks emergencies got done behind locked doors when the markets were closed? Back to that shit again I guess.
I wasn't awake yet. I think I was celebrating the 28th anniversary of losing my...well, you know.
Wallet? You'll be losing more than that this weekend.
Doubt it; sorry to say but so far it feels like the non-event of the week/month/2012....
SURE what we were told was 'the worst possible scenario' Greek default goes down, and suddenly never was a big deal at all, not even a mosquito bite....ok then media can fuck off with all their news from here on out then if everything is irrelevant.
I guarantee one of the major US Banks (B of A/Citi I am talking to you) Screwed the pooch on this. I will bet money that they are on the wrong side of this trade.
You may be right. I took a flyer on FAZ just in case; it seems pretty cheap at the moment, all things considered.
Yeah, I did as well. The uncertainty itself might be enough to push it upwards a bit to sneak a stop in and wait for the bill to become due. Some of those bankers may even have to work this weekend...
I think you made a couple grammatical errors on your post... I can fix it, though... "Screwed the tax payer on this. I will bet money that taxpayers are on the wrong side of this trade."
Fixed... And yes, I agree with you..
They could offer to send them the Statue of Liberty. It's not gold, but it is copper...and hell, we're not using it anymore.
Cue the next Nigel Farage explosion video...
Would someone please correct me if I am wrong. It is my understanding that you do not actually need to own underlying assets (i.e. greek bonds) to purchase derivatives or CDS or other gambling type contracts to bet that the 'default' would occur. Isn't that how a LOT of so-called genius types made billions in the subprime collapse? Again it was my understanding that many of the derivatives that paid off during the subprime collapse were in essence 'naked' short bets. Again it is my understanding that it may be weeks before the system unravels what bets were placed where and that the total could easily be several TRILLION dollars!? Any clarification?
Oh snap!
This is nothing. Wait 'till the Japan debt crisis
Dylan Grice:
http://www.planbeconomics.com/2012/03/09/dylan-grice-popular-delusions-march-1-2012-japan-crisis-no-way-out/
Tyler, I don't know how you guys do what you do, but thank you.
DavidC
TD called this spot on last night ... or was it a year ago?
The personified manifestation of fragments of shattered collective schizophrenic conscience.
That should be a Wheel of Fortune puzzle...would like to see Vanna White try to turn the letters on that pup.
WHO KNOWS WHERE THE RABBIT HOLE ENDS.
Don't shout, I have a headache.
CAPS CAPS CAPS.
Lock.
Sounds like a massive transfer of treasure to oligarch douchebags---private investors and citizens livelihoods flushed down the proverbial toilet
I'm going to transfer what is left in my BofA account to my neighborhood bank before COB. Gotta go.
BofA? You must be a gambler!
Do you think Greeceman Socrates resorted to paradiddle to the banks and countries and investors? They dare not?
Looking at the way prices are moving (or not) in the stock indices following the ISDA announcement, it feels (given the ramp earlier) that banks are DESPERATE to hold the current levels - they know, if they don't, the flood gates are open.
DavidC
I'll definitely be watching the Asian open Sunday evening....
why are we all still here? i dont get it? my internet and lights still work...hold on...let me check my window....traffic lights still working, people seem calm........what just happened? all this time....and nothing?????
ask that same question in about 6 months. greece is just the prologue. PIGS are left
no shit...or should i say mierda...it was sarcasm.....
i think your sarcasm defaulted on that one
my sarcasm could never default, just look at the fine print.....
suck on a CAC
lol
put /s :)
Or don't. It's a test to see how clever we ZHers are.
Is your refrigerator running?
Yes. AND I have King Edward in a box.
I AM Mysteerious Rooshian Vooman.
"people seem calm........what just happened? all this time....and nothing?????"
You remember in Jumanji when they rolled and thought nothing went wrong and then slowly a rumble started to build until a stampeed overwhelmed the house and then the city? We will call that EVENT X.
This is: EVENT X1000
You may not hear a rumble but I do.
You can feel the shit clinging to the air now, its the eye of Shiticane, wait till the Shitwall lands on shore next! Whole lot of folks going to be swept out by the undershit of this shitnami.
Yeah, we have gotten too complacent with the word Billion much less all in one tiny peripheral bank. That is a huge freaking number. I could make 1000 Millionaires. They are short what? About 500 of them?
Yep and its 'only billions, a tiny number really' only when theyre talking about free money printed up in theiry out of thin air....let banks have to pay out actual billions and suddenly its FAR more than a little tiny insignificant deal!
I am at work, so I can not link the youtube ... its classic ... someone please do!
Regards,
Cooter
love a good jumanji reference!
i have always said the fun doesnt begin until all eyes are on the the Underfunded States of America............
Kito just watched a reply of Max Keiser when he said right after Greek defaults, US is goin down.
(or simply ignored on the basis of government backstops).
Didn't one default just now?
Somehow and I don't know what they are going to do, I get a feeling like this is going to suck for us and things are going to march on. I wish I was not so nervous about getting butt-hammered by the FED.
They're gonna need a bigger rug...
...and who makes big rugs? Iranians!
And expert gravediggaz
gasp...those exposed aren't solvent?
Are you suggesting that those with exposure to these swaps might not have the money to pay out? Oh my, what a horrible, and totally unexpected surprise. I wonder where the money will come from to keep the whole thing from collapsing?
You are the insurer! Now hand over your pay check!
The funny thing about this is, that all those CDS buyers probably bought CDS insurance on the CDS issuers as well. At least that is what I would do.. This is total rubbish IMO. CDS issuers issues insurance and the object of insurance does not disclose how much CDS exposure they have in their balance sheets.
I don't see how this could go wrong! :D
so far the effect seems to be limited, is ECB the PPT now?
I wonder if it takes few days to realise what just happened. I went short euro and lets hope i get something right for the past 2 weeks
every call on euro i made in last 2 weeks was wrong. yaks... time to apply for welfare.
I saw it from 2 hours ago when FT headline came across....looked like they just hit the market 'Master Off' switch.
Although the number of holders is finite the number of morons holding the bonds is almost infinite. There is someone else out there that did the same thing and it's going to be a long weekend for that person too.
So I should just sit and wait until my auction on Monday then ?
Thou shall not short any trade
Thou shall not call a default a default
Thou shall not pay off on any CDS
These are just a few of the new commandments from our central planning and banking committtes.
"SillySalesmanQu"...
DON'T BE SILLY...Only two options, SHORT or CASH!
What goes up, must come down!...Patience.
Eurocrat mess on its way....
Does anyone know If BOA has a position In Greek CDSs?
I thought only Barney Frank could use "boa", "position", and "Greek" in the same sentence.
+10 for the inventiveness.-1.000,000 for the mental image
Yes, my thoughts exactly.
Well played sir, well played!
Regards,
Cooter
TIMBER:)
What is "variation margin"? Does it mean establishing a position one price level and an offsetting position at another price level so that my net position might be zero, but I still make or lose money if the price crosses through the range?
Variation margin is the (incremental) collateral that needs to be posted to reduce the exposure caused by an adverse movement in an existing position.
Well done, mayhem, and in this case the question is the frequency of re-evaluation, and how they report it on their filings.
This would be another way for the ring fence to be breached. If TPTB were given bad data by banks trying to conceal things . . . .
frequency? you mean there's a monitor aspect to risk control? you mean we gotta watch this stuff? what's my delta tau name?
Your (and everyone elses) Delta Tau Names is.....Sucker
And is it also the amount you pay on margin call if you are too stupid to close out the position? See throwing good money after bad.
See throwing good money after bad.
what happened to "fix it by doubling down"...?
As I have said here before, I have a very low pain tolerance. Down 10% and I am gone with the wind. Always. Period. No exceptions.
I'm with you - I don't even trade. Can't be bothered. I just accumulate. But for a living I do reconstructive surgery on risk controls gone bad. So I hear stuff like "double down" every now & then.
Huh....so you really DO want the whole $200 dollars worth!
Sometimes you've gotta lose 10% to make 50, or 100, or 300% though..
No, I do not.
As Taleb says, It's not the frequency with which you are correct, but the cumulative effect of your losses that matters.
Amen, mayhem. I wish I had learned that lesson a long time ago. I still haven't learned it.
I want the truth........
You need a new paradigm. That whole looking for the truth thing will kill you...
...or get you killed
Hmmm, Should I be worried?
I think you are, in fact, the accused...
Collateral exchanged is for time and companionship only. Any CDS settling that occurs is a matter between consenting bankers.
I can tell you we are topping this weekend and here is why. I need motorcycle parts. Any time I dump money on parts and maintenance the market tops and I plan to spend around $300 this weekend.
Examples.
Purchased a Buell XB12 9/11/2007
Purchased tires and exhaust 4/23/2010
Purchased Yamaha R1 3/4/2011
Bought an exhaust for it and a Zuma scooter on 7/8/2011.
I'm getting this crap this weekend. I'm buying SH today and parts tomorrow. You have been warned.
I know the feeling. Everytime my sister leaves the country on vacation something stupid happens (9/11, Blackout, Nor'Easter, Blizzard, Hurricane, Earthquake).
She's boarding a flight to India tonight.
You are all warned ...
hahahahaha
Bet rid of the Buell and the R1. Stick with the Zuma. coool.
Ya, people that know what I have give me shit for riding the Zuma more than the others but I swear it is 2x as fun around town than the big bikes.
The back roads are another story but in town the Zuma is untouchable.
I just capitulated to the bulls and threw my entire life savings into FAS. Definitely a top. You have been warned.
No worries bro. You're hedged. I held off on throwing 50k into an S&P index fund today. Should be good for a pop of couple of percent up in S&P over the next few days.
We are in a dense field of dominos. It doesn't really matter anymore which could fall. It will cascade anyway.
Expect it to start from some unexpected corner.
I like this phrase very much! It has been officially commited to my bag of witty stuff.
Regards,
Cooter
Very interesting and funny. The cracks shall soon appear. We will look back on MF as being the first warning sign of credit crisis redux. Never understood that 3.2 billion net figure. Does that include any naked exposures?
Speaking of MF Global. It's nice to know they will be getting paid bonuses for ripping off 1.2 billion.
http://tinyurl.com/7b5ehhb
I feel so stupid for being shocked by this, but I am. There is no sherrif, they will do as they please.
I think nature is the sheriff on this one before its all said and done ... and she can't be fooled or cheated.
Regards,
Cooter
I hope and pray you are correct.
Nature, you mean fractals?
But they repeat...
By Louie Freeh of all people!
JEEBUS.
quote...
so until the bank assumed there would be no CDS, it decided not to daily variation margin its exposure. And only now it has to?
Surely KA is all alone in flagrantly circumventing the primary requirement in posting cash shortfall margin
So what happens now?
It took them 2 years to try and sweep one country under the rug with no negative effects of the default.
mission accomplished
That remains to be seen.
mission accomplished
Yea 2 years for Greece, now only about 40 more countries to go.
Can we get some new math to make it quicker?