Archive for June, 2015

FT Story on Greece

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

This story was out twenty minutes ago and paints a very gloomy picture on the status of negotiations. Via the FT: The Greek central bank warned on Wednesday that if no deal was reached between the government and its international creditors the country would be put on a “painful course” towards both ...

Another Greek Headline

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

This one from 420AM New York time and also from a fully paid up subscriber: RTRS - GREEK CENTRAL BANK SAYS SEEMS COMPROMISE REACHED ON MAIN CONDITIONS, LITTLE GROUND REMAINS TO BE COVERED

Greece Headlines

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015

Received this twenty minutes ago from a fully paid up subscriber: SENIOR EU OFFICIAL: STILL UNCLEAR SEQUENCE OF MEETINGS AFTER THE EUROGROUP, OFFICIALS READY TO CONVENE AT ANY TIME ON GREECE 17-Jun-2015 10:28 - SENIOR EU OFFICIAL: IF THERE IS NOTHING NEW FROM GREECE, EURO ZONE OFFICIALS "REMAIN ON STAND-BY" - RTRS

From the Quis custodiet ipsos custodes Department

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

I think the problem of computer security is underappreciated. Society's reliance and dependence on computers far exceeds the ability of individuals and corporations and governments to protect sensitive data. There is a company called LastPass about which I knew nothing until today. You can hire the outfit to manage your passwords ...

Greece and Europe: Clean Break Unlikely

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

Via Martin Wolf at the FT: Neither Greeks nor their partners should imagine a clean break if they leave the euro The outbreak of the first world war was, we are told, greeted with confidence and jubilation by the peoples of Europe. Something similar seems to be happening after years of economic ...

Atlanta Fed GDP Now Forecast

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

The Atlanta Fed  today revised its forecast of Q2 GDP down to 1.9 from 2.0. The model had moved up to 2.0 percent yesterday with the release of IP data but slipped back to 1.9 percent today with publication of housing starts. Via the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta: The GDPNow model ...

Eclectic Topics

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

Via Merrill Lynch: 3, 2, 1. The FOMC meeting concludes tomorrow precisely three months (two FOMC meetings) before we (BofAML house view from our economists) expect the Fed to start hiking interest rates on September 17th. Last Fed liftoff was June 30, 2004. Two meetings prior to that the March 16, ...

Today’s New Issue Calendar

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

Via Bloomberg: IG CREDIT: List of New Issues Expected to Price in U.S. Today 2015-06-16 14:01:00.0 GMT By Allan Lopez (Bloomberg) -- 6 new issues expected to price today: * Cardinal Health $1.5b (will not grow) Baa2/A- * * 3Y, 10.25Y, 30.25Y * IPT 3Y +110, 10.25Y +160, 30.25 +200 (all area) * Books: BofAML, Barclays, GS, MUFG * Union ...

Housing Starts

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

Via Stephen Stanley at Amherst Pierpont Securities: May housing starts sank by 11%, undershooting expectations substantially.  However, there is a lot of noise in these data.  First of all, the monthly readings have been gyrating in the last several months due in large part to the weather.  Starts sagged in February ...

JPM Duration Survey

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

Via Bloomberg: RATES: Fewest Neutrals Since September in Latest JPM Survey 2015-06-16 12:54:52.598 GMT By Robert Elson (Bloomberg) -- The JPMorgan Treasury Client Survey for the week ended June 15 vs weeks ended June 8, 1. * Longs 16 vs 9 vs 9 * Neutrals 46 vs 52 vs 50 * Shorts 38 vs 39 vs 41 * Net ...