Category: Countries & Regions

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Watch Europe’s Bank Deposits, Not Its Political Moves – James Wood

People are now moving euro-denominated deposits out of Greece, Portugal and even Italy in protection against a possible exit of these countries from the European Monetary Union…….What is the effect of the movement of deposits? The banks losing their deposits will soon be facing a liquidity crisis. A publicly understood liquidity crisis leads to bank failures. In short, the focus on political considerations misses the looming problem of a liquidity crisis and bank failures.

via Watch Europe’s Bank Deposits, Not Its Political Moves – Seeking Alpha.

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Aussie and Loonie hurt by dollar surge

The Aussie broke short-term support at $1.02, signaling a test of parity. The descending 63-day Twiggs Momentum “iceberg” warns of a primary down-trend. Breach of parity would indicate another visit to primary support at $0.94. In the long-term, failure of primary support would offer a target of $0.80*.

AUDUSD

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.08 – 0.94 ) = 0.80

Canada’s Loonie “peeked” briefly above parity before retreating to test support at $0.975/0.980. Descending 63-day Twiggs Momentum, below zero, indicates a primary down-trend. Breach of support would test $0.94; and failure of primary support at $0.94 would offer a target of $0.88*.

CADUSD

* Target calculation: 0.94 – ( 1.00 – 0.94 ) = 0.88

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Euro sinks, dragging sterling lower

EURUSD broke through $1.36 warning of another test of primary support at $1.32. Respect of the zero line by 63-day Twiggs Momentum confirms a primary down-trend. Failure of support would offer a target of $1.22*.

EURUSD

* Target calculation: 1.32 – ( 1.42 – 1.32 ) = 1.22

GBPUSD is being dragged lower by the euro. Reversal below $1.60 warns of another test of primary support at $1.53 — as does 63-day Twiggs Momentum respect of the zero line.  Failure of support would offer a target of $1.46*.

GBPUSD

* Target calculation: 1.53 – ( 1.60 – 1.53 ) = 1.46

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Moody’s Downgrades South Africa

Moody’s rating agency changed its credit rating outlook from stable to negative for South Africa Wednesday, expressing concerns that politicians overseeing the continent’s largest economy won’t be able to stick to strict fiscal policies.

Moody’s has said it fears commitment to low budget deficits could be undermined by pressure from factions of the governing African National Congress party, its labor movement supporters and a population facing high rates of poverty and unemployment. The agency also said a debate driven by the party’s popular youth leader over whether mines should be nationalized is scaring investors.

via Moody’s Downgrades South Africa.

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America and China must “crush” Germany into submission – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

Having followed the German political scene closely for the last five months, it is clear to me that almost the entire German political establishment is out of its depth, ideological, sometimes smug, apt to view the EMU debt-crisis as a Calvinist morality tale, and lacking in deep understanding of what it has got itself into.

One can understand German worries about money printing – and especially the loss of fiscal sovereignty and democratic control – but matters have already moved on. It is too late for that.

via America and China must crush Germany into submission – Telegraph Blogs.

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Global Liquidity ‘on the Cusp’ of Drying Up – WSJ.com

“Global liquidity has fluctuated wildly over the past five years and we are on the cusp of another retrenchment,” [Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney] said in the text of a speech, which was focused on global liquidity, to the Canada-U.K. Chamber of Commerce in London.

Mr. Carney, who was appointed chairman of the Financial Stability Board at last week’s G20 Summit, said market volatility is increasing and activity declining as global liquidity shrinks. “The effect on the real economy will soon be felt,” he said. The Bank of Canada expects the euro-area to experience a brief recession.

via Global Liquidity ‘on the Cusp’ of Drying Up – WSJ.com.

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‘Excessive Liquidity’ Not the Solution for Central Banks – WSJ.com

Governments and central banks shouldn’t throw principles overboard in their efforts to fight the debt crisis, Jürgen Stark, a hawkish member of the European Central Bank’s Executive Board, warned Tuesday. “Red lines mustn’t be crossed, otherwise efforts to solve the crisis today create the basis for a new crisis tomorrow,” Mr. Stark said in a speech in Lucerne, Switzerland.

via ‘Excessive Liquidity’ Not the Solution for Central Banks – WSJ.com.

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Top German Economist: ‘It’s in Greece’s Interest to Reintroduce the Drachma’ – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International

[Economist Hans-Werner Sinn, president of the Institute for Economic Research, in Munich]: What politicians refer to as a “rescue” will not actually save Greece. The Greeks won’t ever return to health under the euro. The country just isn’t competitive. Wages and prices are far too high, and the bailout plan will only freeze this situation in place. So it’s in Greece’s interest to leave the euro and reintroduce the drachma.

via Top German Economist: ‘It’s in Greece’s Interest to Reintroduce the Drachma’ – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International.

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Germany must do it, not China | Credit Writedowns

In the end this is Germany’s crisis to resolve, not China’s. Germany has benefited tremendously from the euro. Nearly all of its growth in the past decade can be explained by its rising trade surplus which, given monetary policy driven almost exclusively by the needs of slow-growing and consumption-repressed Germany, came at the expense of the rest of Europe.

If the Germans want to save Europe, they must reverse their polices and start running large trade deficits even if that comes with slower growth. If not, the euro will break apart and peripheral Europe will almost certainly default on its obligations to Germany. Either way Germany loses.

via Germany must do it, not China | Credit Writedowns.

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Italy Nears Tipping Point as Bond Yields Spike – WSJ.com

Less than two weeks after European leaders unveiled an agreement that was designed to bolster confidence in the region, the yield on Italy’s 10-year debt drew close to the 7% mark, a line in the sand of both practical and psychological importance to the market. Psychologically, 7% has become a beacon due to the fact that Greece, Portugal and Ireland each sought bailouts soon after their debt reached these levels. While analysts said it is too simplistic to say that Italy will be forced to ask for support if its 10-year debt yields 7%, they said the recent selloff is taking the country to the tipping point.

via Italy Nears Tipping Point as Bond Yields Spike – WSJ.com.

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