Spain

Nothing in Spain is exactly as it appears to be, and that few of the arguments politicians and so called “experts” advance are entirely innocent. Most “information” circulating in Spain is highly politicised. Really “independent” analysts…

Successful Spanish and Greek bill auctions and better than expected German IFO caught the market wrong-footed, if the record net speculative short at the IMM is anything to go by. The euro has shot up to almost $1.3090 and pulled up the…

The dollar is broadly weaker as news developments remain mostly positive, boosting sentiment. North American session sees US November inflation; euro likely supported today on short-covering rally. RBI left rates on hold at 8.5%, as…

The dollar is broadly weaker as Spanish auction goes well, euro zone PMIs better than expected. SNB held policy steady with no change to EUR/CHF floor. China, Singapore data help boost sentiment; Hungary reaches deal with banks on CHF…

The following is the press release Moody's issued in putting the covered bonds of five Spanish banks on review for credit ratings downgrades.

Financial news links for 8 December 2011 including stories on Denmark and Danish bank capital, the European sovereign debt crisis and Spanish banks

We could be wrong on this one and may have too much faith in the Eurocrats, but think of consequences if we are wrong? If the EU fails here, it will 1931 all over again and will put the “Great” in this rolling depression/recession.…

The “troika” – Italian, Spanish, and French bond yields - is acting pretty well even after the S&P downgrade. Italy is under 6 percent and that is what matters. We sense there will be tremendous pressure on the shorts and equity risk…

In the aftermath of the emergence of a “reinforced ‘Stability and Growth Pact’”, Citigroup chief economist Willem Buiter is pessimistic about growth outcomes in the major developed economies because the political economy of the sovereign…

Foreign news for 1 December 2011 focuses on Europe, and in particular Spain.