View: Periphery debt tempting, short Bunds great risk reward at current levels

Gloom continues to dominate Eurozone investor’s thinking with the market reluctant to buy into the idea that there are now adequate backstops (ESM, OMT) available to finally stabilise the debt crisis, continuing to focus on the always distracting political noise. This seemingly forgets as to just how the Eurozone crisis has developed over the past three years or so, specifically just how long it takes for the numerous political factions forging those numerous ‘breakthrough’ agreements to find a consensus on the critical final details. Furthermore one can see from previous bailouts that the longer one generally stalls the easier conditions imposed eventually are, making foot dragging an essential component. Of course the Greek problem remains but even there there seems to be a realisation among the core that it is better to keep the patient’s heart beating than force the country out; at least immediately - which means this side of next year’s German federal elections. In fact senior politicians from both sides have been clear about this over the past couple of weeks.