There is little doubt what the world's pivot security is for now - Spanish sovereign debt. 5Y Spanish CDS just broke above 600bps for the first time ever and S&P 500 e-mini futures reacted by breaking below 1300. Lots of moving parts in Europe's sovereign markets - Spanish bonds were modestly bid today even as CDS was gapping wider - but if one steps back and looks at the basis (the spread between bonds and CDS) this makes sense as it had reached almost 100bps offering basis traders the opportunity to buy bonds and buy protection. We suspect few are outright shorting Spanish bonds here now and the marginal offer is a long-seller but with basis traders still active, do not focus entirely on bonds as evidence of anything until the basis contracts.
European Sovereign CDS...
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European Sovereign CDS-Cash Basis...
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note the bounce in Spain's basis today (light blue line -red oval)
Finally recall what we warned, citing Citi, two weeks ago [7]:
"Our impression is that markets will need to act as the proverbial 'attack dog', forcing the issue on the political agenda. We can't escape the sense that it is probably politically easier to let the markets run loose for the time being to make it apparent that further intervention is needed. But 1000bp on Crossover is much closer than you imagine." In other words, Citi just gave the green light for the bottom to fall from the market just so Europe's increasingly impotent political elite does something, anything. Look for many more banks to sign off on the same letter.
We still have a way to go...
Facebook now at a $26 handle...9 days after reaching $45 on the IPO release...
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