Archive for October, 2008

Agency Market

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Agency spreads are tighter but are underperforming swaps this morning. Spreads in the 2 year sector are tighter by 7 basis points (swaps about 21 tighter), 5 year spreads are tighter by 4 basis points( swaps 10 tighter) and 10 year spreads are 1 tighter (close to swaps).One trader with ...

Morgan Stanley CDS

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

The market observes the action of the Treasury and judges that Morgan Stanley has been pullled back from the precipice. On Friday CDS on that hallowed and historic name traded with 25 points up front. This morning they are quoted 335/385 and without the up front money. Separately,the IG 11 has softened ...

Back in the Real Economy

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

People are not drinking as much soda or bottled water and they are also not eating quite as much at the restaurants which Pepsico owns which cater to the hoi polloi.  Ergo Pepsico has jettisoned 3300 workers.

Some Spreads

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Mortgages have opened wider to swaps by 16/32.Swaps are significantly tighter in the sector that most reflects fear. Two year sector spreads are tighter by 24 basis points and 5 year sector spreads are tighter by 14 basis points. In the 10 year sector spreads are better by 6 basis ...

Money Market Update

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

The money market trader with whom I converse regularly is optimistic about the actions taken by the authorities to restore confidence to the financial markets. He thinks that they are taking almost every conceivable action possible to jump start the market. It is his opinion that these actions will work ...

Not a Typo

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Iceland's stock market reopened following several days in which trading had been suspended. You might want to check and see if any of your well diversified IRA or 401K had any Icelandic exposure. Stocks fell 76 percent in that country.

IG 11

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

The spread tightening as evidenced by the IG 11 is rather dramatic. The last quote that I observed late Friday was 216/222. The first indication this morning is 168/172. If the nuns did their work properly, then that would appear to be about a 49 basis point spread tightening, if ...

Recapitalization Plan

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Here is a link to the NYTimes article on the recapitalization plan. Last week was system threatening and certainly some response from government was and is necessary. However, reading this article is a bit scary as the dateline could be Havana or Moscow circa 1965. Maybe lameduck President Bush will announce ...

Some Opening Comments October 14 2008

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Prices of Treasury coupon securities have plummeted as the debt market responds to the actions of governments and regulators around the globe to refloat the banking system. The yield on the 2 year note has jumped 28 basis points to 1.86 percent. In like manner the yield on the 5 ...

Libor: The Descent Begins

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

One week LIBO - Drops 50 basis points     *THREE-MONTH DOLLAR LIBOR 4.64% VERSUS 4.75%, BBA SAYS     *OVERNIGHT DOLLAR LIBOR 2.18% VERSUS 2.47%, BBA SAYS