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Credit crunch hits Venezuela

Fri, Sep 7 2007, 13:14 GMT
by Lars Christensen, Lars Rasmussen

Danske Bank A/S


The credit crunch has come to Venezuela. Today money market rates rose dramatically, going up to as much as 90% after the central bank announced that it had suspended open market operations in order to inject liquidity into the market. Yesterday the average overnight was 22%. The squeeze was further enhanced by the government issuing a 2012 bond yesterday thus draining local markets for liquidity.

The squeeze in the Venezuelan money market is yet another example that the global credit crunch is becoming visible in Emerging markets – especially in the most imbalanced economies and in countries with a weak financial architecture like Venezuela.

The squeeze in the Venezuelan money market also has to be seen in the light of investors reducing exposure to high-risk markets. Despite increasing political and economic problems in Venezuela, money has been pouring into the Venezuelan markets. This might very well be coming to an end.

We are bearish on the outlook for the Venezuelan economy and markets for the following reasons:

  • • President Chavez’s regime is increasingly totalitarian
  • • The economy is going for a boom-bust with overheating spurred by reckless and pro-cyclical fiscal policies
  • • Inflation pressures remain very high
  • • Venezuela’s current account surplus is shrinking dramatically in spite of historically high oil prices.

This story is not an isolated Venezuela story, but rather a developing trend. It is well known that the developed countries’ money markets are not functioning well at the moment and the same can be said for the money markets in many Emerging markets.

While the developed economies in general have a strong banking sector this can not be said for many Emerging markets and hence the risk of banking and financial distress is much larger in Emerging markets than for example in Euroland and the US.

Danske Bank  | Holmens Kanal 2-12, DK-1092 Copenhagen
http://www.danskebank.com/ | danskeresearch@danskebank.com

Legal disclaimer and risk disclosure

This publication has been prepared by Danske Bank for information purposes only. It is not an offer or solicitation of any offer to purchase or sell any financial instrument. Whilst reasonable care has been taken to ensure that its contents are not untrue or misleading, no representation is made as to its accuracy or completeness and no liability is accepted for any loss arising from reliance on it. Danske Bank, its affiliates or staff, may perform services for, solicit business from, hold long or short positions in, or otherwise be interested in the investments (including derivatives), of any issuer mentioned herein. Danske Bank's research analysts are not permitted to invest in securities under coverage in their research sector. This publication is not intended for private customers in the UK or any person in the US. Danske Bank A/S is regulated by the FSA for the conduct of designated investment business in the UK and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Copyright () Danske Bank A/S. All rights reserved. This publication is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

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