ESM

Greek Economy Faces Total Collapse As Doctors Flee, Retail Sales Plunge 70%

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greece

– Greek Economy Faces Total Collapse As Doctors Flee, Retail Sales Plunge 70%  (ZeroHedge, July 28, 2015):

Back in May we outlined the cost to the Greek economy of each day without a deal between Athens and creditors.

At the time, a report from the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Enterprises showed that 60 businesses closed and 613 jobs were lost for each business day that the crisis persisted without a resolution.

Since then, things have deteriorated further and indeed, with the imposition of capital controls, businesses found that supplier credit was difficult to come by, leading to the very real possibility that Greece would soon face a shortage of imported goods, something many Greeks clearly anticipated in the wake of the referendum call as evidenced by the lines at gas stations and empty shelves at grocery stores.

As a reminder, here’s what WSJ said earlier this month: 

Read moreGreek Economy Faces Total Collapse As Doctors Flee, Retail Sales Plunge 70%

Goodbye Troika: Germany Rides Into Its Greek Colony On The “Quadriga”

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Quadriga

– Goodbye Troika: Germany Rides Into Its Greek Colony On The “Quadriga” (ZeroHedge, July 27, 2015):

With creditors’ motorcades having officially returned to the streets of Athens in the wake of Greek lawmakers’ approval of the second set of bailout prior actions last Wednesday, tensions are understandably high.

After all, these are the same “institutions” which Yanis Varoufakis famously booted from Greece after Syriza swept to power in January, and they’ve come to represent the oppression of the Greek people and are now a symbol of the country’s debt servitude.

Although an absurd attempt was made to rebrand the dreaded “troika” earlier this year, the new and rather amorphous moniker – “the institutions” – never really stuck and perhaps because everyone involved felt the need to put a new name to the group that Greeks regard as the scourge of the Aegean in order to make negotiators feel safer on their trips to Athens, creditors have now added the ESM to their collective and rebranded themselves “The Quadriga.” 

Apparently (and unfortunately), this is not a joke. Here’s MNI:

Read moreGoodbye Troika: Germany Rides Into Its Greek Colony On The “Quadriga”

Greek Capital Controls To Remain For Months As Germany Pushes For Bail-In Of Large Greek Depositors

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–  Greek Capital Controls To Remain For Months As Germany Pushes For Bail-In Of Large Greek Depositors (ZeroHedge, July 26, 2015):

Two weeks ago we explained why Greek banks, which Greece no longer has any direct control over having handed over the keys to their operations to the ECB as part of Bailout #3’s terms, are a “strong sell” at any price: due to the collapse of the local economy as a result of the velocity of money plunging to zero thanks to capital controls which just had their 1 month anniversary, bank Non-Performing Loans, already at €100 billion (out of a total of €210 billion in loans), are rising at a pace as high as €1 billion per day (this was confirmed when the IMF boosted Greece’s liquidity needs by €25 billion in just two weeks), are rising at a pace unseen at any time in modern history.

Read moreGreek Capital Controls To Remain For Months As Germany Pushes For Bail-In Of Large Greek Depositors

Define Irony: Greek Banks Refuse To Buy ESM Bonds To Fund Greek Bailout

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– Define Irony: Greek Banks Refuse To Buy ESM Bonds To Fund Greek Bailout (ZeroHedge, July 21, 2015):

In the latest example of what happens when circular funding schemes begin to trip over each other, National Bank of Greece has refused to participate in an auction for paper issued by the bailout fund which is set to recapitalize the Greek banking sector.

…

The Greek Bluff In All Its Glory: Presenting The Grexit “Falling Dominoes”

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Greek dominos

– The Greek Bluff In All Its Glory: Presenting The Grexit “Falling Dominoes” (ZeroHedge, July 4, 2015):

Earlier today, Yanis Varoufakis reiterated his core thesis driving the entire Greek approach from day 1 of its negotiations with the Eurogroup: “Europe [stands] to lose as much as Athens if the country is forced from the euro after a referendum on Sunday on bailout terms.”

This is merely a recap of what we said 4 years ago when in July of 2011 we explained “How Euro Bailout #2 Could Cost Up To 56% Of German GDP“, recall:

Read moreThe Greek Bluff In All Its Glory: Presenting The Grexit “Falling Dominoes”

The Entire Economy Is A Ponzi Scheme!

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–The Entire Economy Is a Ponzi Scheme (ZeroHedge, April 13, 2013):

Bill Gross, Nouriel Roubini, Laurence Kotlikoff, Steve Keen, Michel Chossudovsky, the Wall Street Journal and many others say that our entire economy is a Ponzi scheme.

Former Reagan budget director David Stockman just agreed:


YouTube Added: 10.04.2013

So did a top Russian con artist and mathematician.

Even the New York Times’ business page asked, “Was [the] whole economy a Ponzi scheme?”

In fact – as we’ve noted for 4 years (and here and here) – the banking system is entirely insolvent. And so are most countries. The whole notion of one country bailing out another country is a farce at this point. The whole system is insolvent.

As we noted last year:

Read moreThe Entire Economy Is A Ponzi Scheme!

‘This Isn’t Going To Stop With Cyprus’

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Watch the video here:

– ‘This isn’t going to stop with Cyprus’ (RT, March 28, 2013):

The Cyprus liquidity crisis will only lead to violence, Wide Awake News founder Charlie McGrath has told RT. The journalist warns that the Cyprus solution may serve as a model as the wider EU deals with the financial crisis.

RT: The authorities have promised to reopen the banks on Thursday – do you think Cypriots can sigh with relief now?

Charlie McGrath: No, not at all. And let’s examine the word reopen, because they are not really reopening. They are putting on all these capital restrictions on the people of Cyprus, 300 euros is the max withdrawal they can make. They can only take 3,000 maximum amount if you are going to travel. You live in Cyprus and you have relatives that live in the United States and the UK, wherever and you want to send them money – you absolutely cannot.

The so-called establishment media is talking about, there’s been enough time that has passed since the announcement of this deal that they don’t think there’re going to have a bank run but the real reason they don’t think they’re not going to have a bank run is because they are really not opening the banks. They’re going to have all type of guards and police and very limited funds that the people of Cyprus can take. So, I don’t think they should be relieved at all, nor should Europe nor the rest of the world for that manner.

RT: At this point – how do you convince panicked savers across Europe that the EU won’t dig into their accounts, next?

Read more‘This Isn’t Going To Stop With Cyprus’

Germany’s Rising Anti-Euro Sentiment

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– Germany’s Rising Anti-Euro Sentiment (ZeroHedge, March 10, 2013):

In recent days, FX desk chatter has been of rising concerns over “Germany’s New Anti-Euro Party.” ‘The Alternative for Germany’ party is set to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections in September with a clear goal: “the dissolution of the EUR in favor of national currencies or smaller currency unions.” It also demands an end to ESM payments. As evidenced by the recent vote in Italy, voting intentions in Europe are not just ultra-left or ultra-right wing anti-European, but increasingly mainstream. “Democracy is eroding. The will of the people regarding (decisions relating to the EUR) is never queried and is not represented in parliament. The government is depriving voters of a voice through disinformation…” Ultimately, as Der Spiegel notes, however, the party’s success will likely have more to do with the state of the common currency as the election approaches. Should the crisis flare up, so too could anti-euro sentiment. That sentiment in Germany now has a political home.

Via Der Spiegel,

Anti-euro political parties in Europe in recent years have so far tended to be either well to the right of center or, as evidenced by the recent vote in Italy, anything but staid. But in Germany, change may be afoot. A new party is forming this spring, intent on abandoning European efforts to prop up the common currency. And its founders are a collection of some of the country’s top economists and academics.

Named Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany), the group has a clear goal: “the dissolution of the euro in favor of national currencies or smaller currency unions.” The party also demands an end to aid payments and the dismantling of the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.

Read moreGermany’s Rising Anti-Euro Sentiment

Japan To Buy ESM Bonds Using FX Reserves To Help Weaken Yen (Bloomberg)

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So Japan will ‘stabilize’ itself by monetizing European debt.

Now that makes perfect sense …

… if one belongs to those Keynesian lunatics.

You can’t make this stuff up!

Related info:

– Japan: Presenting Shinzo Abe’s ‘Super-Secret’ Devaluation Plan – Double-Down

– Japanese Ministry of Finance To Japanese Bondholders: YOU’RE SCREWED!!!

– Bank Of Japan Increases Asset Purchases By Y10 Trillion, Total Program Now Y80 Trillion, Total Debt Still Y1 Quadrillion

– Japan to Buy ESM Bonds Using FX Reserves to Help Weaken Yen (Bloomberg, Jan 8, 2013):

Japan will buy bonds issued by the European Stability Mechanism and euro-denominated sovereign debt, a strategy that Finance Minister Taro Aso said will help weaken the yen and support Europe.

The transactions will be funded by Japan’s foreign exchange reserves, Aso told reporters today at a briefing in Tokyo. The purchase amount is undecided, he said.

“The financial stability of Europe will help the stability of foreign exchange rates, including the yen,” Aso said. “From this perspective, Japan plans to buy ESM bonds.”

Read moreJapan To Buy ESM Bonds Using FX Reserves To Help Weaken Yen (Bloomberg)

The Latest Greek ‘Bailout’ In A Nutshell: AAA-Rated Euro Countries To Fund Massive Hedge Fund Profits

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– The Latest Greek “Bailout” In A Nutshell: AAA-Rated Euro Countries To Fund Massive Hedge Fund Profits (ZeroHedge, Nov 21, 2012):

With constantly changing variables in what will be the fourth and not final Greek bailout, it has been relatively difficult to pinpoint just what the “fulcrum security” is in the ongoing restructuring that is not really a cramdown bankruptcy but kinda, sorta is, and more importantly where the money will come from. A big issue that Europe has discovered with a two and a half year delay (pointed out here first, but anyone with capacity for rational thought could have grasped it at the time), is that Greece has hit the inflection point where without more, and substantial, debt forgiveness it is unviable entity, and will certainly not hike the Troika’s hard line target of 120% debt/GDP by 2020. In other words, Greece can no longer layer more debt to pay down debt.

Read moreThe Latest Greek ‘Bailout’ In A Nutshell: AAA-Rated Euro Countries To Fund Massive Hedge Fund Profits

Kyle Bass: Fallacies Such As MMT Are ‘Leading The Sheep To Slaughter’ And ‘We Believe War Is Inevitable’

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– Kyle Bass: Fallacies Such As MMT Are “Leading The Sheep To Slaughter” And “We Believe War Is Inevitable” (ZeroHedge, Nov 17, 2012):

Below are some of the key highlights from Kyle Bass’ latest, and as usual, must read letter:

On central banks and the final round of global monetary debasement:

Central bankers are feverishly attempting to create their own new world: a utopia in which debts are never restructured, and there are no consequences for fiscal profligacy, i.e. no atonement for prior sins. They have created Potemkin villages on a Jurassic scale. The sum total of the volatility they are attempting to suppress will be less than the eventual volatility encountered when their schemes stop working. Most refer to comments like this as heresy against the orthodoxy of economic thought. We have a hard time understanding how the current situation ends any way other than a massive loss of wealth and purchasing power through default, inflation or both.

Read moreKyle Bass: Fallacies Such As MMT Are ‘Leading The Sheep To Slaughter’ And ‘We Believe War Is Inevitable’

Humor: The ECB Explains What A Ponzi Scheme Is; Awkward Silence Follows

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– Friday Humor: The ECB Explains What A Ponzi Scheme Is; Awkward Silence Follows (ZeroHedge, Nov 2, 2012):

From the ECB’s Virtual Currency Schemes, aka the “Bash Bitcoin Boondoggle” (p. 27):

A Ponzi scheme is an investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. Ponzi scheme organizers often solicit new investors by promising to invest funds in opportunities claimed to generate high returns with little or no risk. In many Ponzi schemes, the fraudsters focus on attracting new money to make promised payments to earlier-stage investors and to use for personal expenses, instead of engaging in any legitimate investment activity

Considering that this elucidation comes from the very same entity that launched the SMP, LTRO, OMT, EFSF, ESM, oh, and of course, TARGET2, and whose head said to not short the EUR as there is “no risk” whatsoever in holding said currency, one would expect that this definition is absolutely spot on…

* * *

And as an added bonus, here is the part in which the ECB appears to be so worried about BitCoin taking over as legitimate “legal tender” from the EUR (which the ECB’s Coeure said two days ago is as “solid and longlasting as a diamond”) it dedicated an entire report to bash the recently conceived electronic currency:

Read moreHumor: The ECB Explains What A Ponzi Scheme Is; Awkward Silence Follows

Germany: After Starting Riots In Greece, Bilderberg Merkel Booed Down In Stuttgart

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Stuttgart (the capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg) who has been run by Merkel’s CDU for decades has just voted for a Green Party mayor.

There has to be a second round of voting though, because he didn’t get enough of the votes during the first ballot.

The biggest sign on the first pic reads: Stop World War 3!

The people are continuosly chanting: “GET LOST!”

Stuttgart should be a HOME-RUN for Merkel’s party, but Baden-Wuerttemberghas been taken over by the Green Party.

Now watch this!!!

– After Starting Riots In Greece, Merkel Booed In Germany Next (ZeroHedge, Oct 13, 2012):

What does an iron chancellor have to do to be loved these days? After scrambling 7,000 members of the Greek police force out of an early prepaid retirement for her brief, still inexplicable 6 hour visit to Athens last Tuesday, which caused the now usual Syntagma square rioting, Merkel next took the stage in a rainy Stuttgart, in a show of support for the local mayor candidate Sebastian Turner, which promptly devolved into 14 minutes of continuous booing.Watch below.

More pictures from the same rally, where people apparently were not too keen on WWIII:

Read moreGermany: After Starting Riots In Greece, Bilderberg Merkel Booed Down In Stuttgart

AND NOW …. Quadrupling The Euro Bailout Fund: ESM To Be Leveraged To 2 TRILLION Euros (Focus/Spiegel)

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German TRAITOR Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is in favor of leveraging the ESM. Here, during his 70th birthday celebrations last week.

– Up to Two Trillion: Europe Plans to Leverage Euro-Zone Bailout Fund (Spiegel, Sep 24, 2012):

Officially, the ESM permanent euro-zone bailout fund is worth 500 billion euros. That, though, might not be enough, which is why euro-zone governments are now planning to introduce levers that could mobilize up to 2trillion euros, SPIEGEL has learned. Finland, though, is skeptical of the idea.

With the launch of the permanent common-currency bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), just around the corner, euro-zone member states are looking into ways to leverage the €500 billion ($647 billion) available to the fund, SPIEGEL has learned. But with Finland still concerned about the leveraging plans, it is unlikely that they will be initially included when the ESM is launched on Oct. 8.

The plan envisions the continuation of leverage instruments currently in use in the temporary euro bailout fund, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). Should they be applied to the ESM, the permanent fund could be able to mobilize up to €2 trillion instead of the €500 billion lending capacity it currently has — a size that would make it easier to provide emergency aid to countries as large as Spain and Italy, for example.

Google translation (Original article in German down below.):

– Quadrupling of the euro rescue fund: ESM should be leveraged to two trillion euros (Focus, Sep 24, 2012):

The euro countries prepare before one allegedly leverage the ESM permanent bailout fund. To save even large countries like Spain and Italy, as opposed to its planned 500 billion euros will be available two trillion euros.

Whether to increase the financial cushion reported the news magazine “Der Spiegel” on Monday. Model for the leverage of aid accordingly, the provisions of the predecessor fund EFSF. There are two tools in which the bailout fund with public money can only take on the most risky parts. The rest of the money will come from private investors, which must go into limited risk. However, the concept was the EFSF not apply because there are no private investors found.

Read moreAND NOW …. Quadrupling The Euro Bailout Fund: ESM To Be Leveraged To 2 TRILLION Euros (Focus/Spiegel)

Mario Draghi’s Coup D’Etat And Why OMT Is Illegal

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OMT IS ILLEGAL AS IT VIOLATES ARTICLE 123 (1) OF THE TFEU, WHICH CLEARLY PROHIBITS THE ECB FROM ESTABLISHING A “CREDIT FACILITY … IN FAVOR OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS.”

– Draghi’s Coup D’Etat And Why OMT Is Illegal (ZeroHedge, Sep 22, 2012):

According to Mario Draghi, OMT, or Outright Monetary Transactions, is a program of conditional bond buying targeted at specific countries to restore the perception of the euro’s irreversibility and stability, and repair a broken monetary policy transmission mechanism.  Once launched, OMT has no ex ante limits, it is within the ECB’s price stability mandate, and it can be halted or interrupted based on achievement of its objectives or non-compliance with conditions imposed upon the targeted national government.

I would posit that OMT is much more than what the party line states.  Here are some alternative interpretations for your consideration.  I challenge you to refute the logic of any of them.

Read moreMario Draghi’s Coup D’Etat And Why OMT Is Illegal

Gerald Celente: Criminal Banksters Launching World War III (Video)

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YouTube Added: 17.09.2012

If Nostradamus were alive today, he’d have a hard time keeping up with Gerald Celente.
– New York Post

When CNN wants to know about the Top Trends, we ask Gerald Celente.
– CNN Headline News

There’s not a better trend forecaster than Gerald Celente. The man knows what he’s talking about.
– CNBC

Those who take their predictions seriously … consider the Trends Research Institute.
– The Wall Street Journal

A network of 25 experts whose range of specialties would rival many university faculties.
– The Economist

Germany’s Bundesverfassungsgericht Decision On ESM: German Taxpayer Pillage Can Continue (But With EUR 190 Billion Cap)

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– Karlsruhe Decision: German Taxpayer Pillage Can Continue (But With EUR190bn Cap) (ZeroHedge, Sep 12, 2012):

UPDATE: EURUSD unsure – but seems like ‘Unlimited’ ECB Bazooka’s trigger (ESM) is now capped at EUR190bn from Germany.The Kardinals of Karlsuhe kame through. As somewhat expected, they declined the complaint that, simply put – and among many other things, the ESM structure (i.e. German payments into it) stretches German constitutionality and can proceed to a broader vote next year – but basically – in a nutshell – there’s no coming back now. As expected there are conditions though – that the market seems perturbed by:

  • *GERMAN COURT ALLOWS ESM RATIFICATION WITH CONDITIONS :13347Z US
  • *GERMANY MUST SET CAP FOR LIABILITY UNDER ESM WEHEN RATIFYING
  • *GERMANY MUST MAKE SURE ITS ESM SHARE IS CAPPED AT EU190 BLN

Limited ESM (primary market) vs Unlimited secondary bond market buying (OMT). Go figure it out

Read moreGermany’s Bundesverfassungsgericht Decision On ESM: German Taxpayer Pillage Can Continue (But With EUR 190 Billion Cap)

Germany Can Ratify ESM Fund With Conditions, Court Rules

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– Germany Can Ratify ESM Fund With Conditions, Court Rules (Bloomberg, Sep 12, 2012):

Germany’s top constitutional court rejected efforts to block a permanent euro-area rescue fund, handing a victory to Chancellor Angela Merkel, who championed the 500 billion-euro ($645 billion) bailout facility.

The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe dismissed motions that sought to block the European Stability Mechanism, while ruling Germany’s 190 billion-euro contribution can’t be increased without legislative approval. The court said Germany can ratify the ESM if it includes binding caveats that it won’t be forced to assume higher liabilities without its consent.

“We are an important step closer to our goal of stabilizing the euro,” German Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Philipp Roesler told reporters in Berlin after the ruling today. “It has always been the goal of this government” to establish a “clear limit and to include parliament in all important decisions.”

Read moreGermany Can Ratify ESM Fund With Conditions, Court Rules

Germans Could Be Consigned To Serfdom To Save The Euro – ‘ESM Breaches German Law And EU Treaties’

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The proposed rescue fund for Europe not only breaches German law and EU treaties but could condemn a generation


The euro currency sign in front of the European Central Bank headquarters in Frankfurt . Photograph: Alex Domanski/Reuters

– Germans could be consigned to serfdom to save the euro (Guardian, Sep 9, 2012):

Some commentators have taken to referring to this Wednesday as “the day that could make or break the common currency”, and they’re not far off the mark. On that day, Germany’s constitutional court will announce its verdict on the legality of the European Stability Mechanism, the permanent rescue fund for struggling eurozone countries. If implemented, the ESM’s share capital of €700bn would be provided by all 17 eurozone members in proportion to their economic size. Fourteen have so far ratified the treaty – Estonia, Italy and Germany are the only ones remaining.The German government has defended the ESM treaty, claiming it would fix Germany’s maximum liability at €190bn, and that the Bundestag would retain control over the grant of further assistance. Either German politicians have not read the treaty they have signed, or they do not understand its small print, for there is little in the document that supports their interpretation. Because the ESM is plainly unlawful.

For example, article 25(2) of the treaty states that members are jointly liable for any losses arising from loans made by the ESM. That means if one or more of the ESM members fail to meet their agreed financial contributions, the other members are liable for the shortfall. That situation is already a reality, because Greece and Portugal are unable to make any contribution.

Read moreGermans Could Be Consigned To Serfdom To Save The Euro – ‘ESM Breaches German Law And EU Treaties’

ECB’s Hyper Mario Introduces Unlimited Bond-Buying In Boldest Attempt Yet To End Euro Crisis

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Commentary:

In case some of you still think that politicians and central banksters won’t lie to you:

Flashback: Quotes from the Great Depression

In other news:

– Financial Markets Cheer The Death Of The Bundesbank (Welt, Sep 6, 2012) – Bundesbank Text: Weidmann Reiterated Bond-Buy Criticism

– Hyper Mario Draghi: ‘Euro Is Irreversible’ – ECB Announces Sweeping Program For Buying Bonds, Giving The Bank Potentially Unprecedented Power

– The ESM Violates The Law And EU Treaties (Welt, Sep 4, 2012)

War Is Peace!

… and …

Printing Money (QE) Is Saving The Euro!

Quantitative easing (QE) = printing money = creating money out of thin air = increasing the money supply = inflation = hidden tax on monetary assets = theft!

The ECB will just delay the coming (necessary) collapse for a while. This will be EXTREMELY beneficial for the elitists and the banksters …

… and the middle class and the poor will be totally and utterly destroyed:

“When a country embarks on deficit financing and inflationism you wipe out the middle class and wealth is transferred from the middle class and the poor to the rich.”
– Ron Paul

Here is, AGAIN, where elite puppet Draghi is coming from:

– Mario Draghi (Wikipedia):

Draghi was then vice chairman and managing director of Goldman Sachs International and a member of the firm-wide management committee (2002–2005). A controversy existed on his duties while employed at Goldman Sachs. Pascal Canfin (MEP) asserted Draghi was involved in swaps for European governments, namely Greece, trying to disguise their countries’ economic status.

The ECB will have to monetize TRILLIONS of bad debt!!!


Got physical gold, silver and a remote farm (food, water, etc.)?

Central bank governor Mario Draghi overcomes Germany’s fears over inflation to announce new intervention in debt markets


ECB president Mario Draghi was careful to address German objections in his presentation of the unlimited bond-buying policy. Photograph: Alex Domanski/Reuters

– ECB introduces unlimited bond-buying in boldest attempt yet to end euro crisis (Guardian, Sep 6, 2012):

The European Central Bank (ECB) unveiled its boldest attempt yet to stabilise the battered single currency on Thursday when its president, Mario Draghi, announced a new programme of open-ended, unlimited buying of distressed government bonds.

The scheme is aimed at depressing the costs of borrowing for Spain and Italy and countering the risks of a fragmentation of the eurozone and the unravelling of the single currency.

But Draghi also set strict terms for triggering the bond-buying programme, putting pressure on the eurozone’s political leaders to request help, enter austerity programmes, and agree on direct bailouts for struggling governments before the ECB will act.

Draghi brushed aside strong resistance from Germany’s powerful Bundesbank, which lodged the only vote against the new policy in the ECB’s 23-strong governing council, to come good on his pledge in London six weeks ago that the central bank would do “whatever it takes” to save the euro.

Read moreECB’s Hyper Mario Introduces Unlimited Bond-Buying In Boldest Attempt Yet To End Euro Crisis

‘Spain Requests Bailout On September 14’

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– “Spain Requests Bailout On September 14” – Goldman’s Definitive Post-Mortem On Europe’s Third Bond Buying Attempt (ZeroHedge, Sep 6, 2012):

Yesterday, when Bloomberg leaked every single detail of today’s ECB announcement, which thus means today’s conference was not a surprise at all, yet the market sure would like to make itself believe it was, we noted that everything that was leaked, and today confirmed, came from a Goldman memorandum issued hours before. Simply said everything that happens at the ECB gets its marching orders somewhere within the tentacular empire headquartered at 200 West. Which is why when it comes to the definitive summary of what “happened” today, we go to the firm that pre-ordained today’s events weeks ago. Goldman Sachs.Perhaps the most important part is this: “September 13-14: Spain to make formal request for EFSF support at the Eurogroup meeting. With a large (and uncovered) redemption looming at the end of October (and under pressure from other Euro area governments), we expect Spain to move towards seeking support.” In other words, Rajoy has one more week before he is sacked and the Spanish festivities begin.

Read more‘Spain Requests Bailout On September 14’

18 Indications That Europe Has Become An Economic Black Hole Which Is Going To Suck The Life Out Of The Global Economy

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– 18 Indications That Europe Has Become An Economic Black Hole Which Is Going To Suck The Life Out Of The Global Economy (Economic Collapse, Sep 3, 2012):

Summer vacation is over and things are about to get very interesting in Europe.  Most Americans don’t realize this, but much of Europe shuts down for the entire month of August.  I wish we had something similar in the United States.  But now millions of Europeans are returning from their extended family vacations and the fun is about to begin.  During August economic conditions continued to degenerate in Europe, but I figured that it wouldn’t be until after August that the European debt crisis would take center stage once again.  And as I wrote about last week, if there is going to be a financial panic, it typically happens in the fall.  The stock market has seen quite a nice rally over the summer, and many investors are nervous that we could see a significant “correction” very soon.  The month of September has been the absolute worst month for stock performance over the past 50 years, and it has also been the absolute worst month for stock performance over the past 100 years as well.  Of course that does not guarantee that anything is going to happen this year.  But things in Europe continue to get worse.  Unemployment rates are spiking, manufacturing activity is slowing down, housing prices are crashing and major financial institutions are failing.  What is happening in Europe right now appears to be an even worse version of what happened to the United States back in 2008.

Read more18 Indications That Europe Has Become An Economic Black Hole Which Is Going To Suck The Life Out Of The Global Economy

Spain Is Running Out Of Cash

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– Is Spain Running Out Of Cash? (ZeroHedge, Sep 3, 2012):

Some hours ago Spain finally bit the bullet, and after months of waffling had no choice but to hand over €4.5 billion (the first of many such cash rescues) in the form of a bridge loan to insolvent Bankia, which last week reported staggering losses (translation: huge deposit outflows which have made the fudging of its balance sheet impossible). As a reminder, in June Spain formally announced it would request up to €100 billion in bailout cash for its insolvent banking system, which subsequently was determined would come from the bank rescue fund, the Frob, which in turn would be funded with ESM debt which subordinates regular Spanish bonds, promises to the contrary by all politicians (whose job is to lie when it becomes serious) notwithstanding. And while Rajoy has promised that the whole €100 billion will not be used, the truth is that considering the soaring level of nonperforming loans in Spain – the biggest drain of both bank capital and liquidity – it is guaranteed that the final funding need for Spain’s banks will be far greater. As a further reminder, Deutsche Bank calculated that when (not if) the recap amount hits €120 billion, Spanish total debt/GDP would soar to 97% in 2014 from an official number of 68.5% in 2011 (luckily the endspiel will come far sooner than that). But all of that is well-known, and what we wanted to focus on instead was the fact that bank bailout notwithstanding, Spain will have no choice but to demand a full blown rescue within a few short months for one simple reason: its cash will run out.

Read moreSpain Is Running Out Of Cash

The ESM Violates The Law And EU Treaties (Welt, Sep 4, 2012)

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Google translation here: The ESM Violates the Law And EU Treaties (Welt, Sep 4, 2012):

The Federal Constitutional Court rules on 12. September on the constitutionality of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) . The European Court verifies that violates the euro bailout of EU law. The Constitutional Court has already made clear that a new Euro Treaty and further financial support to weaker euro-zone countries do not cancel the Budget Law of the Federal Parliament must.

The ESM can buy directly from euro zone countries to provide them with government bonds or loans. This allowed the ECB officially not the EU Treaty. However, it emphasizes the federal government sees the ESM prior to a cap of 700 billion euros and limited the German share of it applies to “only” 190 billion euros. Apparently reading the Parties from politicians not or do not understand the details. The ESM is clearly illegal.

Original article here: ESM verstößt gegen Gesetz und EU-Verträge (Welt, Sep 4, 2012):

Das Bundesverfassungsgericht urteilt am 12. September über die Verfassungsmäßigkeit des Europäischen Stabilitätsmechanismus (ESM). Auch der Europäische Gerichtshof prüft, ob der Euro-Rettungsschirm gegen EU-Recht verstößt. Das Verfassungsgericht hat bereits klargestellt, dass ein neuer Euro-Vertrag und weitere finanzielle Unterstützung für schwächere Euro-Staaten das Budgetrecht des Bundestages nicht aufheben dürfen.

Der ESM darf direkt von Euro-Zone-Staaten Staatsanleihen aufkaufen oder diesen Kredite gewähren. Dies darf die EZB laut EU-Vertrag offiziell nicht. Allerdings, so betont die Bundesregierung, sieht der ESM eine Haftungsobergrenze von 700 Milliarden Euro vor und begrenzt den deutschen Anteil daran eindeutig auf “nur” 190 Milliarden Euro. Offenbar lasen die Politiker den Vertag nicht oder sie verstehen dessen Details nicht. Der ESM ist eindeutig rechtswidrig.