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HomeAn Irish Chink in the Euro’s Armor?
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 29th, 2011 6:03 AM |
In the midst of my recent travels around Ireland I was asked the following question by an Irish businessman. “Larry, when investors purchase senior bonds issued by banks, don’t they take risk?” I informed this friendly chap that based on how capitalism is supposed to work, that yes, these senior bondholders just like every other investor supposedly take risk when making an investment of this type.
My new friend then inquired as to how and why in Ireland’s recent negotiations with the EU’s hierarchy that the senior bondholders of Irish banks were not compelled to take a haircut. Knowing that we did not have enough time to fully pursue all of the angles to this topic, I gained an up close and personal appreciation for the disgust that many Irish citizens have for the recent ‘supposed support’ Ireland received by the EU and the European Central Bank. (more…)
Irish Bailout Is a Backdoor Bailout of European Banking System
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 18th, 2010 6:20 AM |
What is going on in Ireland? Those forty shades of green look so inviting. How could it be that the Emerald Isle is the center of the current financial turmoil? Well it is…and it isn’t.
How is it that a variety of Irish officials can claim that they neither need nor want a bailout from the EU but a bailout is assuredly on the way? Are we witnessing a sovereign nation losing the ability to control its own affairs? There is no doubt the Irish are a proud people but are they also being overly stubborn at this juncture (believe me, I know proud and stubborn…!!)? Are the Irish failing to accept the inevitable? Hadn’t the Irish attempted a Swedish style approach in terms of aggressively recognizing losses within their financial sector?
While the answer to all of these questions is a varying degree of the affirmative (especially the proud and stubborn..!!), to truly understand what is happening in Ireland, we actually need to shift our focus to the European mainland. Really? Why’s that? Let’s navigate the tangled web and interconnectedness of the global banking system circa 2010. (more…)
