CDS

As many readers have been requesting data on both intro and intermediate CDS topics, I am posting a paper on one of the most fundamental credit derivative concepts: how to equate CDS pricing levels with those of cash bonds. As new concepts emerge, more explanatory information will be provided. Enjoy the paper - compliments of Maiden Lane I.

Or maybe the correct question is "what wasn't" especially for the past 3 months... I touched earlier upon the pain that is still to be unleashed upon the autosuppliers when I discussed the Visteon CDS auction. However, it seems the credit market is already on top of this. A brief observation of the CDS (and to an extent the equity) levels of TRW and American Axle indicates that over the past week something has really spooked longs in the names.

The name of the game last week was the roll, with the expiration of the June contract leading to over $300 billion in Matured Transactions. New protection creation was delayed into the roll and this week will likely see a comparable pick up in new protection purchasing. Approximately $200 billion in net notional exposure was removed from the system, however with $300 billion accounting solely to terminations, implies there was a net $100 billion purchasing offset that was not roll related.

The name of the game last week was the roll, with the expiration of the June contract leading to over $300 billion in Matured Transactions. New protection creation was delayed into the roll and this week will likely see a comparable pick up in new protection purchasing. Approximately $200 billion in net notional exposure was removed from the system, however with $300 billion accounting solely to terminations, implies there was a net $100 billion purchasing offset that was not roll related.

As many readers have been requesting data on both intro and intermediate CDS topics, I am posting a paper on one of the most fundamental credit derivative concepts: how to equate CDS pricing levels with those of cash bonds. As new concepts emerge, more explanatory information will be provided. Enjoy the paper - compliments of Maiden Lane I.

Or maybe the correct question is "what wasn't" especially for the past 3 months... I touched earlier upon the pain that is still to be unleashed upon the autosuppliers when I discussed the Visteon CDS auction. However, it seems the credit market is already on top of this. A brief observation of the CDS (and to an extent the equity) levels of TRW and American Axle indicates that over the past week something has really spooked longs in the names.

Or maybe the correct question is "what wasn't" especially for the past 3 months... I touched earlier upon the pain that is still to be unleashed upon the autosuppliers when I discussed the Visteon CDS auction. However, it seems the credit market is already on top of this. A brief observation of the CDS (and to an extent the equity) levels of TRW and American Axle indicates that over the past week something has really spooked longs in the names.

In its Chart of the Day, Bloomberg finally picks up on a topic that Zero Hedge readers are all too familiar with - California CDS.

After three very volatile weeks, it seems the CDS world tapered off modestly. While action was rather subdued, the bulk of activity was focused on insurance buying, with over $63 billion in net notional being purchased in over 3,400 contracts. Total cumulative CDS action since the beginning of April grew to over $400 billion, and virtually all sectors are now net derisked over the past 2 months, with the consumer leading the risk parade.

Today's RH Donnelley CDS auction closed at an abysmal 4.875 final price (on top of the IMM). When will DTCC/JPM change the default recovery on bonds for the CDSW calc from 40 to 10? Why 10% - because, as the chart below demonstrates, that is what the weighted average CDS auction recovery has been for the past 8 months.

Today's RH Donnelley CDS auction closed at an abysmal 4.875 final price (on top of the IMM). When will DTCC/JPM change the default recovery on bonds for the CDSW calc from 40 to 10? Why 10% - because, as the chart below demonstrates, that is what the weighted average CDS auction recovery has been for the past 8 months.

After many weeks of cumulative derisking, the CDS market rerisked violently, most notably in the Consumer Goods and Consumer Service sectors, where a total of $169 billion in net notional open interest rerisking occurred. One explanation is that the big move is due to unwinding of new issue basis trades put on over the past month as horrendous companies issued all sorts of garbage debt.

Credit is now officially done with the rally. While last week's unprecedented $215 billion in CDS purchased will likely be a record for a while, this week saw yet another substantial $120 billion in net notional increase, based on 5,770 contracts exchanged. Also, net cumulative notional CDS by sector has surpassed the half a trillion mark since early April.

Credit is now officially done with the rally. While last week's unprecedented $215 billion in CDS purchased will likely be a record for a while, this week saw yet another substantial $120 billion in net notional increase, based on 5,770 contracts exchanged. Also, net cumulative notional CDS by sector has surpassed the half a trillion mark since early April.

The latest data out of DTCC indicates that the volatility in the equity world is spreading to credit. Not only that, but last week the CDS market turned decidedly pessimistic, with over $215 billion in net CDS purchased, the highest amount in terms of net notional in over 2 months. Cumulative net CDS purchased since the start of April has ramped up to almost half a trillion dollars.