Thanks to Holger Zschaepitz for this set of Tweets.
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Silent Capital Flight
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EGB Credit Curve
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Italy Debt Downgrade Coming Up
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Italy 10-Year Bond Yield
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Germany 10-Year Bond Yield
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Theory vs. Reality
In theory, there is zero default risk on Eurozone sovereign bonds.
If that was the case, German 10-year bonds and Italian 10-year bonds would have the same yield.
In practice, the bond market says the spread between German and Italian 10-year bonds is 275.5 basis points (2.755 percentage points) and climbing.
For now, capital flight shows up in interest rates, spreads, and Target2 balances rather than a full blown crisis of some sort. How long this can continue is anyone's guess.
Risk High and Rising
I discussed this setup twice recently.
- July 12, 2018: Eurointelligence Displays Stunning Ignorance Regarding Target2
- August 4, 2018: Debate Over Target2 Continues: Twilight of the Euro
Bottom Line
Claims that none of this matters and that there would be no consequences if Italy left the Eurozone and defaulted are more ridiculous as ever.
The harder people attempt to come up with reasons that none of this matters, the sillier they look.
The bond market is talking. Who's listening?
Mike "Mish" Shedlock
