Euro Bailout Fund Chief Sees No Quick China Deal

Now it all starts unraveling. It’s all talk- another ‘optical illusion’ with no operational reality I sight. The China participation isn’t a done deal. The 50% haircut isn’t a done deal either as they haven’t yet figured out how to actually do it without a default event. The EFSF contributions aren’t a done deal either.

What they have done is further frightened investors to the point where the ECB will find itself buying a lot more bonds to keep member nation funding in check, while ‘negotiations’ drag on with no resolution, meaning, as previously discussed, this is the resolution.

Hoping i’m wrong…

Euro Bailout Fund Chief Sees No Quick China Deal

By Reuters

October 28 (CNBC) — The head of Europe’s bailout fund said on Friday he does not expect to reach a conclusive deal with Chinese leaders during a visit to Beijing but expects the surplus-rich country to continue buying bonds issued by the fund.

Euro Zone Strikes Deal on 2nd Greek Package, EFSF

The markets like the announcement. Of course they also liked QE2…

Unfortunately, as previously discussed, without the ECB the EFSF isn’t sustainable. It’s like trying to lift up the bucket by the handle when you are standing in it.

Nor is it cast in stone yet, but all subject to details.

Also, the positive market response, if it continues, only encourages the continuing austerity measures that are weakening the euro economy and forcing already unsustainable deficits higher.

And, again, it’s a case of ‘the food was terrible and the portions were small.’

Starting with the 50% private sector loss on Greek bonds-

Presumably that ‘works’ if it indeed brings Greek debt down to 120% of GDP from 160% by 2020. But that implies the austerity measures won’t continue to reduce GDP and cause the Greek deficit to increase, as continues to be the case.

It presumes the 50% haircut will be considered sufficiently voluntary to not be a credit event that triggers a variety of global default clauses.

The rest of the ‘package’ presumes markets won’t reduce the presumed credit worthiness of member nations who fund the EFSF.

It presumes private sector funds will recapitalize the banks that lost capital on the write downs.

It presumes the EFSF won’t be needed to fully fund Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

It presumes banks and other investors required to be prudent and financially responsible to shareholders will continue to buy other euro member nation debt even after seeing the euro zone members allow Greece to default on half of their obligations.

That is, how could any bank now buy, for example, Italian debt, in full knowledge that euro zone policy options include a forced write down of that debt. And not in extreme, unforeseen circumstances, but under current conditions.

And how can prudent investors invest in the banks when they’ve just seen euro zone remove some 100 billion euro in equity by decree?

The problem is, it takes a presumption of general improvement to presume additional losses will not be incurred by investors.

And it takes a presumption of general improvement to presume the EFSF will be successful.

And that requires the presumption that continued austerity measures will result in a general improvement.

Even as all evidence (and most theory) is showing the opposite.

Euro deal leaves much to do on rescue fund, Greek debt

By Luke baker and Julien Toyer

October 27 (Reuters) — Euro zone leaders struck a last-minute deal to limit the damage from the currency bloc’s debt crisis early on Thursday but are still far from finalizing plans to slash Greece’s debt burden and strengthen their rescue fund.

Valance Weekly Report 10.26.2011

Valance Weekly Report

(To download PDF, right click link and select save link as)

Highlights
US – Consumer Confidence erosion mirroring Europe’s
EU – Business and Consumer Confidence at cycle lows
JN – Exports improve although domestic conditions remain weak
UK – Manufacturers’ optimism dropped sharply
CA – BoC cut its 2011/12 growth forecast
AU – Inflation moderated in Q3
NZ – RBNZ may delay hikes

Crude Oil Update

Still seems to me that the idea that WTI appreciates to Brent as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve release winds down over the next few weeks is playing out as previously discussed. The WTI discount depends on a serious glut condition persisting, and the wind down of the approx 3.8 million barrels a week being delivered from the strategic petroleum reserve will work to reduce the glut by that amount.

If so, WTI is marching towards $110/barrel which seems to me could trigger substantial market reactions.

And about the same time the super committee deficit reduction talks will be in full swing, euro financing stresses elevated, exacerbated by confirmation of the 0 gdp growth forecasts hit the headlines, and further slowdown news from China complicating things as well.

The ‘answer’ remains as simple as it is further away from political reality than ever, even though the right policy responses couldn’t be more attractive to both sides:

The US budget deficit is too small.

MERKEL: ECB INVOLVEMENT IN EFSF LEVERAGE RULED OUT

Looks like Merkel is speaking purely for political effect, which may be all she’s capable of, unfortunately.

Fact is, from the beginning, without the ECB ultimately writing the check, it’s all been in ponzi.

And like all ponzi’s, it seems to work on the way up, and disintegrates on the way down.

With the ECB writing the check, deficits can be determined by further political/public purpose, without concern of ‘market forces’ undermining finance.

Without the ECB writing the check, it all probably keeps disintegrating, as none of the member nations can be inherently solvent without some form of ECB support.

MERKEL SAYS GOAL OF TONIGHTS DISCUSSIONS MUST BE TO HAVE A SOLUT ION WHICH PUTS GREECE AT A DEBT TO GDP RATIO OF 120 PCT BY 2020
MERKEL: ECB INVOLVEMENT IN EFSF LEVERAGE RULED OUT
MERKEL: GERMAN EFSF CONTRIBUTION WON’T EXCEED E211 BLN
MERKEL: BANK RECAP NECESSARY TO PREVENT CONTAGION
MERKEL: NEED PERMANENT SUPERVISION OF GREECE
MERKEL: TROIKA SUPERVISION DOESN’T SUFFICE
MERKEL: GREEK BOND HAIRCUT ALONE WON’T SOLVE PROBLEMS
MERKEL:PSI MUST BE MUCH HIGHER THAN AGREED ON JULY 21
MERKEL: NEED SIGNIFICANT PSI IN GREEK RESCUE

US Treasury May Issue Debt With a Floating Interest Rate

Brilliant. Reminds me of Will Rogers. Think of all he’d have said if he’d understood MMT.

US Treasury May Issue Debt With Floating Interest Rate

By Jeff Cox

October 24 (CNBC) — Dealers and traders have been approached recently with plans to issue a floating-rate note that for investors would provide an opportunity to profit should rates go up and for the government a chance to restructure its debt even further.

Obama to announce action on mortgages

About time!

Obama to announce action on mortgages

By Kate Mackenzie

October 24 (Financial Times) — US regulators on Monday plan to unveil a major overhaul of an under-used mortgage-refinance program designed to help millions of Americans whose home values have tumbled, the WSJ says. The plan will streamline the refinance process by eliminating appraisals and extensive underwriting requirements for most borrowers, as long as homeowners are current on their mortgage payments. The measures will not require congressional approval, says Reuters, and the first of the initiatives will be unveiled during Obama’s three-day trip to western states beginning Monday. He will discuss the changes in mortgage rules at a stop in Nevada, which has one of the hardest-hit housing markets in the country. The Obama administration has been working with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to find ways to make it easier for borrowers to switch to cheaper loans even if they have little to no equity in their homes.