Dread in Madrid

A month ago Europe bailed out Spanish banks but left Spain on the hook for the full $125 billion loan. Since there was immediate concern Spain might default on the debt, and that the new debt was senior to all private debt, private investors ran from Spanish bonds and Spanish borrowing costs spiked. Now Europe…

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The Reign in Spain

Yield’s on Spanish sovereign debt are skyrocketing, despite the latest $125 billion bailout. If Spanish banks fail, the cash-strapped government must bail them out. Unfortunately, failing banks have been the biggest buyers of Spanish debt. Given collapsing bond prices, an economy in recession, rising unemployment, a sovereign credit downgrade and falling property values, Spanish banks…

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