Default?

All these mentions of default have me puzzled. Argentina has already defaulted on various tranches of debt over the last few months. I believe resurgence of the word "default," refers to a massive default of the entire dollar denominated debt series in a global negotiation. But Argentina has been in default on one several securities for a while now.

The main problem, as I see it, is Argentina is behaving like Argentina. The Argentines have gone into the negotiations with a chip on their shoulder, throwing around lots of attitude and bluster. But they don't hold the high cards in the negotiation. And this attitude has won them no friends. Creditors don't appreciate it when debtors, whom are looking to cut their principal by some $30B - $40B, act like thugs. It's in bad taste and arouses resentments. Kicillof's attempt to deliver a 24 hour ultimatum (which he then rescinded and ended up paying 100 cents on the dollar) is a perfect example of professional negotiation gone wrong.

Another problem: Argentina has failed to put forward an economic plan for recovery. No creditor is going to sign off on a multi-billion dollar renegotiation without a credible economic plan for recovery, thereby providing assurance of repayment. That Argentina has failed to provide a clear economic path forward to aid negotiations is either bad faith, incompetence or complete ignorance.

In my opinion, Argentina's posture is unproductive. I understand Alberto and Kicillof want to look tough. But in the long run, that's not going to further negotiations. The bonds under negotiation are governed by collective action clauses and other covenants. These contractual rights give creditors the upper hand against a distressed debtor. There is one tranche in particular that is not very large, under which just 33% of face value can cross block several other tranches. I believe an aggressive hedge fund owns over 33% of that tranche.

These bonds were signed by Argentine legal representatives in the state of NY under NY law. They are legally binding contracts. If Argentina does not reach a consensual resolution, then Argentina will be shut out of international markets (except for China, Venezuela and Russia - who will take large chunks of flesh while giving little in return). If Argentina is shut out of international markets - again - the entire country will seize. Just like before. Legal costs will accumulate, interest costs will accumulate. The bill for Argentina will keep growing.

Argentina can't wish this debt away. And it can't run forever. Eventually, Argentina will have to pay. The longer Argentina waits, the worse it gets. In Argentina, you can break a contract with impunity. Or you can adjudicate for so long as to render a contract meaningless. When it comes to hedge funds exercising their contractual rights under NY/US law, it ain't gonna work that way. The debt will sit there, growing larger, until Argentina pays. In the interim, Argentina will be constantly looking over its shoulder as creditors try to seize petroleum shipments or state aircraft or whatever other assets are left unprotected in the international space. Argentina holds the low cards in this game. It's time Argentina accepted that fact and began behaving that way to save its taxpayers a ton of money.
 
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To my knowledge, safety boxes have never been breached. Plenty of rumors about it, but that's all. So far!
 
there are 2 things no government has done (yet): expropiate flats and open security boxes!

Quite right.

However, to my own, personal knowledge, many private homes were expropriated when Peron was in power. These palatial residences, coveted by Peron's henchmen, were expropriated lock, stock and barrel, complete with furniture, paintings, and garden statues.
 
The alternative is keeping $$ at home, which is very dangerous. Not for the theft itself, but for the real danger of criminals breaking in and torturing the family until someone reveals where the money is.
 
The main problem, as I see it, is Argentina is behaving like Argentina. The Argentines have gone into the negotiations with a chip on their shoulder, throwing around lots of attitude and bluster. But they don't hold the high cards in the negotiation. And this attitude has won them no friends. Creditors don't appreciate it when debtors, whom are looking to cut their principal by some $30B - $40B, act like thugs. It's in bad taste and arouses resentments. Kicillof's attempt to deliver a 24 hour ultimatum (which he then rescinded and ended up paying 100 cents on the dollar) is a perfect example of professional negotiation gone wrong.

Another problem: Argentina has failed to put forward an economic plan for recovery. No creditor is going to sign off on a multi-billion dollar renegotiation without a credible economic plan for recovery, thereby providing assurance of repayment. That Argentina has failed to provide a clear economic path forward to aid negotiations is either bad faith, incompetence or complete ignorance.

In my opinion, Argentina's posture is unproductive.... If Argentina does not reach a consensual resolution, then Argentina will be shut out of international markets (except for China, Venezuela and Russia - who will take large chunks of flesh while giving little in return). If Argentina is shut out of international markets - again - the entire country will seize. Just like before. Legal costs will accumulate, interest costs will accumulate. The bill for Argentina will keep growing.

Argentina can't wish this debt away. And it can't run forever. Eventually, Argentina will have to pay. The longer Argentina waits, the worse it gets....The debt will sit there, growing larger, until Argentina pays. ... It's time Argentina accepted that fact and began behaving that way to save its taxpayers a ton of money.
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Cannot see anyone disputing the point that Argentina in an extremely vulnerable position though I am not clear what is being proposed here: it seems to turn on a view that Argentinians have a psychological or personality disorder and culturally cannot accept that they have to behave like humble supplicants rather than 'thugs'. Again the argument seems to turn on Argentina's childlike approach to adult problems - throwing a tantrum rather than accepting responsibility, and facing the music rather than running away from realities. As I see it, Macri would behave as humbly as Uriah Heep to get IMF support and their ready acquiescence landed Argentina with $57b bail out that is the principal part of the debt. Humility does not necessarily equate with rational strategy. As I understand it, the government is well aware that they have few cards to play in this poker game and their main bid is to delay the loan repayments and think up a strategy that has defeated most previous governments of how to service an overwhelming debt burden while keeping a restive population from desperate remedies. Its clear that foreign investors and the IMF see the solution in squeezing living standards even further and ensuring that the mass of the population pay for the disastrous mistakes of the recent past, though I doubt they are advocates of raising taxes on business and wealth. Even Christina is not saying 'default' but 'don't pay while recession lasts'. So the question remains just how to raise money in a 'realistic' mind-set to pay off creditors? To out-Macri Macrismo with neo-conservative policies would be politically disastrous even if there were some certainty that they would deliver what Macri so signally failed to achieve.
 
We've experienced one 2001 crisis already. We do not, under any circumstances, trust the banks.
Why would anyone put valuables in a safety box when you can't even enter the bank when the smelly stuff is all over the fan? Makes no sense.

So why are we even discussing safety boxes imaginary boogie men?

Iz
 
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