The Reign in Spain's Banks
Here are the main problems with the weekend deal:
It preserves shareholder equity in what would otherwise be bankrupt firms with no net worth. It keeps inept or possibly crooked bank executives in place and drawing large salaries, benefits and perhaps even bonuses. It allows bondholders of these institutions to retain at least some value and liquidity in the bad loans they made to these insolvent companies. It puts innocent European citizens who never chose to invest in shares or bonds of these failed Spanish banks on the hook for both past and future losses. It sets no limits on how much more could be required in the future. It sets a horrible precedent for the coming debacles waiting around the corner in Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Greece (which now has every right to expect an equally good deal).Yet, markets around the world have rallied strongly on all this "good news."
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