Archives of “lehman brothers” tag

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Charting The Epic Collapse Of The World's Most Systemically Dangerous Bank

  
Analysis, Education
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It’s been almost 10 years in the making, but the fate of one of Europe’s most important financial institutions appears to be sealed.
After a hard-hitting sequence of scandals, poor decisions, and unfortunate events,Visual Capitalist’s Jeff Desjardins notes that Frankfurt-based Deutsche Bank shares are now down -48% on the year to $12.60, which is a record-setting low.
Even more stunning is the long-term view of the German institution’s downward spiral.
With a modest $15.8 billion in market capitalization, shares of the 147-year-old company now trade for a paltry 8% of its peak price in May 2007.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

If the deaths of Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns were quick and painless, the coming demise of Deutsche Bank has been long, drawn out, and painful.

In recent times, Deutsche Bank’s investment banking division has been among the largest in the world, comparable in size to Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Bank of America, and Citigroup. However, unlike those other names, Deutsche Bank has been walking wounded since the Financial Crisis, and the German bank has never been able to fully recover.

It’s ironic, because in 2009, the company’s CEO Josef Ackermann boldly proclaimed that Deutsche Bank had plenty of capital, and that it was weathering the crisis better than its competitors. (more…)

Roubini: How to prevent a depression

  
Analysis, Education
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An eight point plan to minimise the fallout of another economic contraction.

AMSTERDAM – The latest economic data suggests that recession is returning to most advanced economies, with financial markets now reaching levels of stress unseen since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. The risks of an economic and financial crisis even worse than the previous one – now involving not just the private sector, but also near-insolvent sovereigns – are significant. So, what can be done to minimize the fallout of another economic contraction and prevent a deeper depression and financial meltdown?

First, we must accept that austerity measures, necessary to avoid a fiscal train wreck, have recessionary effects on output. So, if countries in the eurozone’s periphery are forced to undertake fiscal austerity, countries able to provide short-term stimulus should do so and postpone their own austerity efforts. These countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the core of the eurozone, and Japan. Infrastructure banks that finance needed public infrastructure should be created as well.

Second, while monetary policy has limited impact when the problems are excessive debt and insolvency rather than illiquidity, credit easing, rather than just quantitative easing, can be helpful. The European Central Bank should reverse its mistaken decision to hike interest rates. More monetary and credit easing is also required for the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England, and the Swiss National Bank. Inflation will soon be the last problem that central banks will fear, as renewed slack in goods, labor, real estate, and commodity markets feeds disinflationary pressures. (more…)

Full Examiner Report of Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy

  
Analysis, Education
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Here are links to the the “Report of the Examiner in the Chapter 11 proceedings of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.” from Anton R. Valukas of Jenner & Block.  It looks like they hid some assets, look at Volume 3 – “Repo 105”.  Zero Hedge blog has a detailed post on Repo-105 and Bloomberg has a story (JPMorgan, Citigroup Helped Cause Lehman Collapse, Report Says).

Volume 1- Sections I & II: Introduction, Executive Summary & Procedural Background; Section III.A.1: Risk
Volume 2- Section III.A.2: Valuation; Section III.A.3: Survival
Volume 3- Section III.A.4: Repo 105
Volume 4- Section III.A.5: Secured Lenders; Section III.A.6: Government
Volume 5- Section III.B: Avoidance Actions; Section III.C: Barclays Transaction
Volume 6- Appendix 1
Volume 7- Appendices 2 – 7
Volume 8- Appendices 8 – 22
Volume 9- Appendices 23 – 34

Lessons from Lehman: ‘Don’t Panic’

  
  Education
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WEEKEND-READINGWarren Buffett is not called the ‘Oracle of Omaha’ for nothing.

‘Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful’ is good investment advice looking back at the turmoil of September 2008.

The demise of Lehman Brothers five years ago marked the start of a truly fearful six months for investors. Only in March 2009 had risky asset prices fallen far enough for bargain-hunting buyers to begin picking up equities and lower-quality bonds.

On the anniversary this weekend of Lehman’s collapse, those investors who stayed the course in equities and junk bonds can afford a smile. The S&P 500 index has gained 50 per cent.

They have done well, though alternative bets made in 2008, such as buying a New York City taxicab medallion, have done even better. (more…)

With $1 Trillion In Loans, The ECB Is The Biggest Guarantor Of European Banks

  
Analysis, Economy, Education
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Today’s lower than expected interest in the 3-month LTRO operation was supposed to indicate a sign of stability for European banks. Nothing could be further from the truth. In an article which recaps a variety of data points presented here previously, the FT summarizes that European banks continue to exist solely due to a record and unprecedented $1 trillion in emergency loans issued to Europe’s commercial banks. In turn, almost 40% of this liquidity is then recycled, and stored back with the ECB, as the very same banks have no trust whatsoever in any of their peers. In short: no matter what the Stress Tests indicate, the European financial system is now in a worse condition than ever in history, including the days just after Lehman.

From the FT:

The ECB is currently lending close to €900bn ($1,098bn, £728bn) to eurozone commercial banks, jumping to near-record levels since the creation of the central bank 11 years ago. This now matches cross-border lending between commercial banks in the 16-nation currency zone, according to JPMorgan.

Although lending between domestic banks represents the lion’s share of the estimated €6,300bn market, the ECB has become essential as a lifeline to the weaker of the 3,000 banks in the eurozone.

At least some people still have the guts to laugh in the face of JCT’s propaganda:

 
 

Paul Griffiths, global head of fixed income at Aberdeen Asset Managers, says: “Without financial support many banks would struggle. It would take a brave man to turn the ECB taps off.”

Summarizing just how critical the ECB’s role is in the proper functioning of European banks:

 
 

Since Lehman Brothers collapsed in September 2008, lending by the ECB to eurozone banks has risen sharply as it has offered unlimited loans and extended its liquidity operations. This has seen the sum it lends to the banks rise from about €500bn before the Lehman crisis to today’s near record levels.

As well as the offer of unlimited loans, the ECB has bought €55bn in eurozone government bonds and €60.2bn in eurozone covered bonds in an effort to revive the eurozone economy and boost sentiment.

However, fear still stalks the markets. Interbank dealers say credit blocks remain on Spanish and Greek banks because they are seen as too risky to lend to.

The fear of lending to other banks because they may fail to repay loans is also reflected in the large sums of cash being deposited at the ECB overnight.

In spite of offering only 0.25 per cent for deposits, commercial banks parked €305bn at the ECB on Monday night because they prefer the safety of placing their money with the central bank rather than lending to other banks at higher rates. Before the Lehman crisis, overnight deposits at the ECB were typically less than €10bn.

And a pretty chart showing just how contrary to fact are all European claims that all shall be well.

At this point it is worth reminding that the Fed is a paragon of transparency and openness when compared to the infinitely more nebulous ECB. One thing that can be assumed with certainty for both central banks, however, is that this $1 trillion+ in cash lent out is backstopped by some of the most toxic paper in existence. The collateral received in exchange for the cash, which in turn forms the asset side of the ECB’s balance sheet, is also the guarantor of the money in circulation in the eurozone, and is the implicit baker of the value of the Euro. Next time you wonder why more and more people are calling for EURCHF parity, keep in mind that almost a hundred billion in Greek bonds is just part of the worthless recourse backing that piece of paper in your transatlantic wallet.

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