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May 23, 2011, 9:13 AM
We've ranked the top 21 countries by today's intraday CDS price, or the cost to insure each country's debt. It isn't a perfect ranking of what country is likely to default first, or when, but does show a growing consensus from market participants that the crises in these states is getting worse.
#21 Russia
Current 5-year CDS Price (bps): 136.83
Friday 5-year CDS Price (bps): 135.37
Note: A 5-year CDS price of 1000 bps suggests it costs $1 million to insure $10 million of debt.
Source: Bloomberg (current), CMA Datavision (Friday)
#1 Greece
Current 5-year Mid CDS (bps): 1393.33
Friday 5-year CDS Price (bps): 1334.83
Note: A 5-year CDS price of 1000 bps suggests it costs $1 million to insure $10 million of debt.
Source: Bloomberg (current), CMA Datavision (Friday)
John Mauldin: If Greece Defaults, It Will Not Be Contained
May 24, 2011, 4:21 PM
As for the mechanism for that contagion, Mauldin lays out the following scenario in the event of a Greek default:
Greece has to nationalize its banks.
Greek citizens are forced to take deposits in drachmas, rather than euros.
Greek consumers and businesses then default on all debts because of the resulting haircut, which he estimates at 50%.
French and German banks are forced to take write-downs on their Greek exposure.
The ECB is forced to take a write-down on its exposure to Greek debt.