Skip to main content

More proof that holding European sovereign debt is toxic


Société Générale on Tuesday moved to calm jittery investors by announcing sharp cuts to the euro-zone sovereign-debt exposure that has weighed heavily on its stock in recent months, lifting its shares despite reporting lower-than-expected net profit for the third quarter.
Net profit at the Paris-based lender fell 31% to €622 million ($856.9 million) from €896 million a year earlier, undershooting analyst forecasts of €732 million. It was hit by higher provisions against Greek sovereign bonds, and as volatile financial markets pressured its corporate and investment bank. (Wall Street Journal, 08/11/11)

If any additional proof was needed, now the French banks are looking at "provisioning" or liquidating their European sovereign debt portfolio.  Taking the PIIGS + Belgium (country without a government for 2 years) total sovereign debt (including banks) is Euro 5 trillion, looking at a 30% to 50% hair cut the world is looking at a Euro1 to 2.5 trillion hole.

Once the banks are out, it leaves the insurance companies and the pension funds "holding the bag"  imagine with the Portuguese, Irish, Italian, Greeks and Spaniards realize that their pensions are funded to the level of 20% to 30% -- that there is no money available.  Those who purchased annuities from insurance companies or life insurance (a form of savings in Europe because of the tax code) will realize that the money is simply not there anymore.  This is going to end badly (not that there could be any other outcome).  The reality of solvency problems (while the intelligentsia has been selling liquidity) will hit those Europeans very soon.  I remember being in Seoul in 1997 during Asia's financial crisis, the anger was palpable...  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spray painting Taylor Swift G650 aircraft (updated)

 First, a bit of paint will not harm anyone.  These climate activities are going to learn two things in the next few days:  (1) Trespassing at an airport is a felony almost anywhere in the world.  That means criminal prosecution.   (2) removing paint from an aircraft is expensive.   So these climate activists are about to find out the reach of the British criminal system and it will not be pleasant, the UK has very strict laws about that, I would be surprised if cleaning the aircraft of all the paint will cost less than $100,000.     I am sure that when they planned (premeditation) this little show they had a very valid logic to doing this.  Tonight, they are probably realizing the depth of their troubles.   I understand that in the UK it's a minimum one-year jail sentence.    Also, good luck travelling with a criminal trespass charge against you.  I am relatively certain that the airline industry will ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Farm; Half year performance

 People appear to be genuinely curious. 2024 has been a record first half for the farm.  The addition of high tunnels has greatly impacted our revenues.   While we expected Q1 profits to be higher, it really was the second quarter that produced the goods.  The terrible weather has greatly impacted the production of high-end vegetables. Energy costs are now very stable and have become a fixed variable especially now that our bio digesters are fully dialled in.   Replacing some of our pre-dryer equipment was covered under warranty, and the new equipment is far better at dealing with gas moisture, and much better steel!   Our diesel costs are what they are! Our biologist and ecologist devised a new planting plan for our high tunnels that greatly reduced pests, especially slugs.   We have seen a 90% decline in sluggs this year, resulting in better yields.   It seems that several plants act as natural repelants and if planted c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Britain, France and Egypt

 The voters realize now that the Conservative Praty desire to return to 19th-century dominance has driven its hatred of the EU.  The voters realize now that departure from the EU has accelerated Britain's decline and may soon make it irrelevant.  At best it will have to kiss American arses to maintain its standing.  For this, the conservatives were punished.  The decline of Britain was inevitable, competition from Frankfurt and Germany in Finance was bound to grow.  The core of Europe (aka Germany) is aging quickly Macron seems to be winning his bet, the left alliance that won the legislative elections will not remain united for long, since they disagree on about everything.   The Far right though it was about to assume power is once again relegated to the back of the bus.   It may draw its own conclusions, but not all of these are good for France.  The far-right has won nearly 1/3rd of the electorate, that is not something to be ig...
Post a Comment
Read more