The German judges yesterday approved German participation in the ESM bailout fund, providing the Germans are responsible for no more than €190B. A number larger than the €190B would need to be approved by the Bundestag. Despite other pending worries, this was enough to keep the bulls happy in the equities and euro markets.
Dutch voters handed pro-European parties a sweeping election victory on Wednesday, shunning the radical fringes and dispelling concerns that Eurosceptics could gain sway in a core euro zone country. The risk events of the week are hardly over, however. In the US, the Fed is meeting and today they will announce how soon they commence with QE 3. Anything less than more easing from Ben would be bearish.
Tuesday we mentioned the Greek leaders had failed to reach an austerity proposal that will please the troika. It is rumoured that President Obama is leaning on the euro leaders to not take any drastic action until after his re-election in November. He came to power during a financial crises and fears another might send him packing. So the Greek threat may be deferred for another few months.
The Spanish debt problem, with the rate on 10-year notes soaring above 7%, has been a major concern for Draghi and the Central Bank. Efforts have been made to remove the euro ‘drop-out risk’ premium from interest on Spanish debt. This, Draghi claims, will reduce the risk of buying the Spanish sovereign debt, and, with other measures, reduce borrowing rates.
For Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy, there is a problem with the ECB solution, namely the German austerity push. For Spain to accept ECB help, they must accept further budget cutting as prescribed by the German influenced troika. The Spanish economy is suffering about 25% unemployment, and further austerity without a growth formula would send Spain on the same depression route that has been the Greek fate. Further, austerity will cause another problem.
Tuesday, in Barcelona, an estimated crowd of 1.5 million people demonstrated in favour of Independence for Catalonia, a group they call the National Catalan Assembly. Catalonia has been autonomous in the past, but when Franco consolidated power in Spain after the Civil War in the 1930’s, that autonomy was halted. After Franco’s death in 1975, a new Constitution was written in 1978.
Democracy in Spain is relatively new, only thirty-four years. This is probably their biggest crisis, and the resolution is yet to unfold. Catalonia, with a population of 7.5 million – 16% of Spain’s total population – and a big manufacturing economy has been especially hurt by the recession. They have requested in early September €5B from Madrid from an €18B euro fund for troubled regions.
Catalonia, which is responsible for 20% of the total GDP, claims they pay into Madrid far more than their share, and deserve a refund. Should they fail to get money returned to them, this may hasten their move for independence.
Before getting enthusiastically friendly to the euro it may be best to quote the George Soros remarks in Berlin this week as furnished by Market Watch:
“The recession in Europe will spread to Germany, the euro-zone’s largest economy, within six months, said George Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management. “The policy of fiscal retrenchment in the midst of rising unemployment is pro-cyclical and pushing Europe into a deeper and longer depression,” Soros said in prepared remarks for a speech in Berlin Monday. “That is no longer a forecast; it is an observation. The German public doesn’t yet feel it and doesn’t quite believe it. But it is all too real in the periphery and it will reach Germany in the next six months or so.” Germany needs to abandon its demands for austerity in other countries, and embrace the continued fiscal unification of the region, or leave the euro zone itself, he said. Soros also said it would be better for Germany stay in the euro zone and work to boost growth, activate a debt reduction fund and guarantee common bonds.”
The EURUSD (UUP, UDN) have had a nice run but we suspect there are some more issues that will bedevil the euro in the near future. We remain hopeful the rally will carry back above the 1.30 handle where we wish to try the short side.
Written by CashBackForex.com