Foreigners Dump Nearly €80 Billion in Spanish Debt; Haircuts Come After More Dumping

Through the first half of the year, foreigners reduced Spanish debt by Nearly €80 Billion as banks in Spain gobbled up more of the toxic garbage.

Foreign investment in Spanish public debt has decreased by €78.168 billion in the first six months of the year, standing at  €203.271 billion euros, compared to  €281.439 billion which reached the end of 2011. This is a break of 27.7% over last year.

The largest decreases were recorded in February and March, at nearly €25 billion each month.

Analysts note that Spanish financial institutions that are supporting strongly the Treasury issues and thus raising their level of debt thanks to interventions by the ECB.

Contrary to popular belief, the LTRO and other ECB financing programs that allowed Spain to accumulate more Spanish bonds is not a favor to Spain but rather a favor to foreigners who are now unloading the debt.

Just as happened with Greece, as soon as foreigners dump enough Spanish debt, haircuts on the bonds will come.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
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