Stock Markets to Eurozone: Darn it, You're Ruining Everything
by
Jun 1st 2012 4:33PM
Updated Jun 1st 2012 4:34PM
That giant sucking sound you hear is money -- lots of it -- fleeing stock markets around the globe for the safe havens of the U.S., German, and U.K. sovereign bond markets. It's fear talking -- fear of intensifying crisis in the eurozone.How bad is it? For the month of May, Japan's Nikkei stock index was down 8.6%. Germany's DAX lost a massive 13.5%. Britain's FTSE plummeted 17.8%. Here in the U.S., the S&P 500 was down a relatively mild 6.7%, but that's not much to cheer about.
This response to the eurozone's latest crisis point is driving bond yields to record or near-record lows:
- 10-year U.K. Gilts are paying just 1.48%, down from 2.1% a month ago.
- The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries is just 1.47%, down from 1.95% a month ago.
- 10-year German Bunds are yielding just 1.21%, down from 1.67% a month ago.
Greece + Exit = "Grexit"
After all the eurozone crises we've endured over the past few years, why the rush to the exits now? In short, with what's currently going on in Greece and Spain, it's arguable we might really be approaching the make-or-break point for the eurozone this time.
It's unclear, however, who will be elected this time and what they will decide to do. If the bailout terms are rejected, it's very likely the other eurozone countries will cut off monetary assistance, Greece will default, and it will be forced out of the eurozone.
Spain + Panic = "Spanic"
In Spain, the government recently had to bail out out one of its biggest banks -- Bankia -- to the tune of $23 billion. That's not a lot of money for the U.S. government, but it's a lot for Spain.
The Bankia bailout is engendering fears that Spain itself will soon need a bailout, and that Europe won't be able to afford it. (Remember, Spain is the eurozone's fourth-largest economy.) And all this is only further driving up the cost of Spanish debt, increasing the possibility the country might need a Greek-style bailout.
No country has ever left the eurozone, so no one knows what sort of economic chaos might ensue -- on either side of the Atlantic -- if one does. In the meantime, investors should prepare for further devaluation of their stock portfolios. It's not over yet.
Around The Web:
Greece Eurozone Exit Would Be Felt Worldwide
Greece conservatives get boost from Eurozone exit warnings ...
BBC News - Business Bites: Planning for Greece eurozone exit
European shares, euro gain as Greek fears ease | Reuters
Clegg warns of Greek euro zone exit "chain reaction" - Yahoo! News
Why Greece Needs to Leave the Euro Zone - SPIEGEL ONLINE
Euro zone exit might be best of bad options for Greece - The Globe ...
Consequences of a Greek eurozone exit - FT.com
Greece conservatives get boost from Eurozone exit warnings
Greece Eurozone Exit Would Be Felt Worldwide
Thomas Cook expects euro zone exit to boost tourism in Greece
Greece Eurozone Exit: Countries Preparing For Scenario
Cyprus drafting plan on possible Greek euro exit
'Rumours of a Greek exit is all smoke and mirrors, the Eurozone is simply not ...
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