Europe's banks brace for UK debt crisis

[DiscoStu]

Can't allow that - what would they do with the money while they are saving up? If they lock it away then they are hording it. If they lend it to someone it has to be in the form of long-term investment and not for the short-term.

Maybe they could open an IceSave account and put it in there.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Yes, governments should have to save up if they want to buy stuff

Can't allow that - what would they do with the money while they are saving up? If they lock it away then they are hording it. If they lend it to someone it has to be in the form of long-term investment and not for the short-term.

[DiscoStu]

Now you want to close down the government bond market as well!

Yes, governments should have to save up if they want to buy stuff

[HairyArsedBloke]

It's a false growth build on debt - not just Govt, but also massive personal debts.

'king 'ell - AtW says something that is true.

[AtW]

Government bonds, and their role in a countries economy (And how they drive growth etc). Good place to start, I'd suggest.

It's a false growth build on debt - not just Govt, but also massive personal debts.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Countries or companies or individuals that are NOT in debt do not have debt crisis, simple really.

Now you want to close down the government bond market as well!

[minestrone]

Countries or companies or individuals that are NOT in debt do not have debt crisis, simple really.

Yes, because the creditors are always paid off aren't they?

No such thing as a CDS is there?

Jesus AtW, you really are simple.

[snaw]

Countries or companies or individuals that are NOT in debt do not have debt crisis, simple really.

You have an incredibly simplistic view of how economies work. Given you waffle on about it so muc, have you ever considered actually doing some research on it?

Government bonds, and their role in a countries economy (And how they drive growth etc). Good place to start, I'd suggest.

Come back next week, give us say 500 words on why it's a good or bad idea.

[DiscoStu]

I never understand economics.

Neither does AtW, sadly this doesn't stop his continual pontificating about it...

[xoggoth]

Typical Brit govt inneptitude etc etc. On the other hand, according to summit I read last week (But can't be @rsed to look for) it is that paragon of efficiency and productiveness, Japan, that faces the worst collapse. They also managed to have a recession when nobody else did. I never understand economics.

[AtW]

Did you mention the bond market, or is it the bond debt market and I thought governments shouldn't issue them, according to the wise words of AtW, chapter 27654, paragraph 21 a (ii)

Countries or companies or individuals that are NOT in debt do not have debt crisis, simple really.

[snaw]

UniCredit has alerted investors in a client note that Britain is at serious risk of a bond market and sterling debacle and faces even more intractable budget woes than Greece

The Italian-German group, Europe's second largest bank, said Britain's tax structure will make it hard to raise fresh revenue quickly enough to restore confidence in UK public finances.

"I am becoming convinced that Great Britain is the next country that is going to be pummelled by investors," said Kornelius Purps, Unicredit 's fixed income director and a leading analyst in Germany.

Mr Purps said the UK had been cushioned at first by low debt levels but the pace of deterioration has been so extreme that the country can no longer count on market tolerance.

"Britain's AAA-rating is highly at risk. The budget deficit is huge at 13pc of GDP and investors are not happy. The outgoing government is inactive due to the election. There will have to be absolute cuts in public salaries or pay, but nobody is talking about that," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"Sterling is going to fall further over coming months. I am not expecting a crash of the gilts market but we may see a further rise in spreads of 30 to 50 basis points."

Yields on 10-year gilts have already crept up to 4.14pc, compared to 3.94pc for Italian bonds, 3.48pc for French bonds, and 3.19pc for German Bunds, though part of this reflects worries about higher inflation in Britain.

an Stannard, currency strategist at BNP Paribas, said markets are fretting over how the UK will cover its deficit following the pause in quantitative easing by the Bank of England. The Bank has absorbed £200bn of debt, more than total Treasury issuance over the last year.

"The UK may have difficulty in attracting extra investors to fill the gap. We think they will have to do more QE as recovery falters," he said.

BNP Paribas expects sterling to drop to $1.31 against the dollar this year and reach parity against the euro despite troubles in Club Med. "We're very bearish on the UK," he said.

Big global banks are divided over Britain's economic prospects . Goldman Sachs is betting on a turbo-charged recovery as the delayed effects of sterling devaluation kick in. Britain's trump card is an average debt maturity of 14.1 years, nearly three times US maturities and double those of France. This greatly reduces the risk of a "roll-over" crisis.

UniCredit said Greece is better placed than the UK in coming months even if deficits look comparable. "The polls point to a minority government in the UK, while Greece's government can count on a majority to push austerity measures through parliament. Secondly, the British tax system offers less leverage for a rise in revenue," he said.

Paradoxically, Greek tax evasion creates scope for a surge in revenues from tougher enforcement. "It is not out of the question that we will see a positive surprise in Greece: is there any such hope for Britain?" said Mr Purps.

Still, while it is arguable whether a hung Parliament in Britain will lead to policy drift, analysts said Greece was in trouble already. The country was brought to a standstill on Thursday by the second general strike in weeks. Police clashed with rioters , again reducing Athens to a fog of tear gas. Observers said that did not augur well for a nation that has hardly begun its three-year ordeal of draconian cuts

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/e...bt-crisis.html

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Too late for witty, insightful AtW comments...

Did you mention the bond market, or is it the bond debt market and I thought governments shouldn't issue them, according to the wise words of AtW, chapter 27654, paragraph 21 a (ii)

AtW's comment: not sure that will work, european banks will just make more money part of which will go to US banks anyway - the solution is NOT to NEED issue debt bonds in the first place.

[AtW]

UniCredit has alerted investors in a client note that Britain is at serious risk of a bond market and sterling debacle and faces even more intractable budget woes than Greece

The Italian-German group, Europe's second largest bank, said Britain's tax structure will make it hard to raise fresh revenue quickly enough to restore confidence in UK public finances.

"I am becoming convinced that Great Britain is the next country that is going to be pummelled by investors," said Kornelius Purps, Unicredit 's fixed income director and a leading analyst in Germany.

Mr Purps said the UK had been cushioned at first by low debt levels but the pace of deterioration has been so extreme that the country can no longer count on market tolerance.

"Britain's AAA-rating is highly at risk. The budget deficit is huge at 13pc of GDP and investors are not happy. The outgoing government is inactive due to the election. There will have to be absolute cuts in public salaries or pay, but nobody is talking about that," he told The Daily Telegraph.

"Sterling is going to fall further over coming months. I am not expecting a crash of the gilts market but we may see a further rise in spreads of 30 to 50 basis points."

Yields on 10-year gilts have already crept up to 4.14pc, compared to 3.94pc for Italian bonds, 3.48pc for French bonds, and 3.19pc for German Bunds, though part of this reflects worries about higher inflation in Britain.

an Stannard, currency strategist at BNP Paribas, said markets are fretting over how the UK will cover its deficit following the pause in quantitative easing by the Bank of England. The Bank has absorbed £200bn of debt, more than total Treasury issuance over the last year.

"The UK may have difficulty in attracting extra investors to fill the gap. We think they will have to do more QE as recovery falters," he said.

BNP Paribas expects sterling to drop to $1.31 against the dollar this year and reach parity against the euro despite troubles in Club Med. "We're very bearish on the UK," he said.

Big global banks are divided over Britain's economic prospects . Goldman Sachs is betting on a turbo-charged recovery as the delayed effects of sterling devaluation kick in. Britain's trump card is an average debt maturity of 14.1 years, nearly three times US maturities and double those of France. This greatly reduces the risk of a "roll-over" crisis.

UniCredit said Greece is better placed than the UK in coming months even if deficits look comparable. "The polls point to a minority government in the UK, while Greece's government can count on a majority to push austerity measures through parliament. Secondly, the British tax system offers less leverage for a rise in revenue," he said.

Paradoxically, Greek tax evasion creates scope for a surge in revenues from tougher enforcement. "It is not out of the question that we will see a positive surprise in Greece: is there any such hope for Britain?" said Mr Purps.

Still, while it is arguable whether a hung Parliament in Britain will lead to policy drift, analysts said Greece was in trouble already. The country was brought to a standstill on Thursday by the second general strike in weeks. Police clashed with rioters , again reducing Athens to a fog of tear gas. Observers said that did not augur well for a nation that has hardly begun its three-year ordeal of draconian cuts

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/e...bt-crisis.html

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Too late for witty, insightful AtW comments...