Summarizing The Reactions To The Portuguese Bailout

by Tyler Durden
04/06/2011 15:32 -0400
62 comments

Following weeks and months of lies that Portugal does not need a bailout, that is is not Ireland, Greece, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Middle Earth, Uranus, etc, the country finally realized it is bankrupt, unless it comes, hat in hand, bagging for a bailout from Jean Claude Trichet (who now is scratching his head how to spin this latest sovereign default as bullish ahead of tomorrow's rate hike). Which it just did. Reuters has compiled the reactions by those who felt like sharing their views on this foregone conclusion.

KEY POINTS: * Portugal's situation worsened last month after the government resigned, sending bond yields soaring, sparking a series of rating downgrades and a warning by local banks that they may no longer be able to buy government debt. * "In this difficult situation, which could have been avoided, I understand that it is necessary to resort to the financing mechanisms available within the European framework," said Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos.

VASSILI SEREBRIAKOV, SENIOR CURRENCY STRATEGIST, WELLS FARGO, NEW YORK:

"It's somewhat puzzling this lack of euro reaction to Portugal admitting it needs aid. I guess the market is viewing this news as a foregone conclusion. This is a big financial step for Portugal and it's obvious that Portugal cannot finance itself. As to why the euro doesn't care, there are other themes playing out in the market. Investors are obviously focused on the ECB rate hike on Thursday. And in an environment where yield is the market's main focus, investors are bidding up the euro because of the prospect of more interest rate increases."

DAVID LEDUC, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, STANDISH, A DIVISION OF BNY MELLON ASSET MANAGEMENT, BOSTON:

"In general, we've been concerned about Portugal's fiscal challenges and not only think they need short-term financial help but also a high probability that Portugal has to restructure their debt.

"We remain concerned about it and the political difficulties add a challenge to what they have to do.

"The political stress and economic difficulties highlight the severe challenge Portugal and other countries have in pursuing austerity packages. When you can only control fiscal policy, not monetary policy, then you don't have all the levers available. When you only can cut and can't do other things to make yourself more competitive, such as devaluing your currency, that's a challenge."

DAVID DIETZE, CHIEF INVESTMENT STRATEGIST, POINT VIEW FINANCIAL SERVICES, SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY:

"In some ways it is a positive -- I think Portugal was in denial. On this side of the pond no one understood exactly how Portugal was going to be able to dig out of its problems without getting aid. We have seen Greece and Ireland ultimately have to go hat in hand, and traders every day have been looking at the widening spreads between the German sovereign debt and the Portuguese sovereign debt and wondering how it all ends."

ERIC GREEN, CHIEF ECONOMIST AND HEAD OF RATES STRATEGY, TD SECURITIES, NEW YORK:

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/summar ... se-bailout