Archive for July, 2008

Corporate Bonds

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Corporate bond spreads as measured by the IG 10 are 5 basis points to 6 basis  points tighter this morning. There is very little cash trading and there is little happening in the new issue market. With the treasury market about unchanged and spreads tighter that would appear to be a ...

MBS Opening

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Mortgages are between 4 ticks and 8 ticks tighter to Treasuries and off their best levels of the day. Flows have been light and weighted to the buy side. There is some relief that the immediate crisis has passed and there will be no immediate liquidation of MBS by the ...

Agency Updates as of 840AM New York Time

Monday, July 14th, 2008

The outsized gains which I reported earlier have been pared back. Benchmark agencies in the 2 year sector are now 1 basis point tighter to Treasury benchmarks. In the 5 year sector paper remains tighter by 5 1/2 basis points and 10 year paper is better by 3 basis points. Agency ...

Agency CDS

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Agency CDS spreads are opening significantly tighter. The spread on senior paper was quoted recently at 37/42 which is about 15 better than the close. The spread on the subordinated paper has recently been quoted 150/170 which is better by about 60 basis points.

Agency Debt Versus Treasury Debt

Monday, July 14th, 2008

The agency market has been very fast this morning and illiquid. Benchmark spreads have been as much as 15 tighter to Treasury benchmarks. The most recent indication that I have received has paper 5 basis points to 10 basis points tighter.

Agency Spreads

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Agency spreads are opening about 4 basis points tighter. Swap spreads are opening 1 basis point to 2 basis points tighter.

Some Opening Comments July 14 th 2008

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Prices of treasury coupon securities have declined modestly in overseas trading. The yield on the benchmark 2year note has climbed a basis point to 2.60 percent. The yield on the benchmark 5 year note has increased by 2 basis points to 3.30 percent. The yield on the 10 year note ...

Sunday Night Stream of Consciousness on the Bailout

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

The Treasury announced a bailout package for the GSEs this evening. The proposal contains three pieces. The Treasury will seek to increase the nominal line of credit to the agencies (I believe a little over $2billion currently) and will need Congressional approval for that action.They will also seek approval from ...

More on the GSEs

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

The financial press is replete with stories about meetings in Washington regarding the status of FNMA and Freddie Mac. The gist of the reporting is that the various parties to the conversations are busy discussing various funding options for the GSEs if such aid is warranted.One of the items mentioned ...

Mortgage Summit

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

From the Financial Times.