A Paper Crisis

Posted on May 2nd, 2010 by mark in Market Observations

It’s both heartening and unsettling to see one of MarkOnMarket’s key issues come to its initial fruition.  Greek bonds – never the bedrock of stability – have finally been shown to be worth just about nothing.  Interest rates soared passed double digits after S&P belatedly rated the bonds as “junk” which caused a wave of [...]

ECB: Imagine There’s No .. Greece

Posted on January 25th, 2010 by mark in Market Observations

As surely as the dollar seems doomed to decline in status, one might assume that the Euro would be preparing to take its place. And while some in Europe would love for this to happen, the problem with the Euro is simply that it’s impossible to set a European-wide policy that works for the various [...]

Sliding Greece

Posted on December 8th, 2009 by mark in Doom & Gloom

We’ve been watching Greece teeter on the brink for what now seems like an eternity. In another trend, we’ve been watching Fitch attempt to get tough with its ratings, in an effort to brand itself as the good rating agency. Both trends continued today, as Fitch downgraded Greece’s debt rating to BBB+. The Hellenic Republic [...]

Euro Junk?

Posted on January 22nd, 2009 by mark in Market Observations

Just a quick post detailing the relentlessly rising spread among Euro-denominated bonds. I believe this is an extremely important development and I hope to have a new sidebar with this information soon.  For a previous look at the situation, see Greek Ire. Remember, all of these European nations are selling bonds in Euros. The only [...]

Greek Ire

Posted on December 29th, 2008 by mark in Doom & Gloom, Economics & Politics

If troubles in Iceland reveal our civilization fraying a bit around the edges, the Greek uprisings do the same with a slightly more ominous overtone. While the Icelanders have kept their cool even while protesting their government, the Greeks are given to a little more passion. Today, Athens is no longer a pillar of our [...]

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