tommy271
Forumer storico
ECB's Stark-restructuring would end Greek bonds as collateral
FRANKFURT | Thu May 19, 2011 3:29am EDT
FRANKFURT May 19 (Reuters) - Restructuring of sovereign debt in Greece would make it impossible for the European Central Bank to continue to accept its bonds as collateral in liquidity operations, Executive Board member Juergen Stark was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
"Sovereign debt restructuring would undermine the eligibility of Greek government bonds," an ECB spokesman quoted Stark as having said during a visit to Greece on Wednesday.
"A continuation of liquidity provision would be impossible."
The ECB accepts Greek and Irish government bonds as collateral in ECB liquidity operations regardless of their credit rating.
It accepts collateral at market value minus a predetermined haircut. Were Greece to restructure its debt, the market value would plummet and this would make its use as collateral difficult.
German daily Financial Times Deutschland reported on Thursday that ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet had warned that the 17-country bloc's central bank would stop accepting Greek government bonds as collateral if the country were to ask investors for a voluntary extension of bond maturities.
It said both Stark and fellow Executive Board member Lorenzo Bini-Smaghi had warned the ECB would be unable to allow banks to use Greek bonds in return for liquidity.
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Stark all'attacco ...
FRANKFURT | Thu May 19, 2011 3:29am EDT
FRANKFURT May 19 (Reuters) - Restructuring of sovereign debt in Greece would make it impossible for the European Central Bank to continue to accept its bonds as collateral in liquidity operations, Executive Board member Juergen Stark was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
"Sovereign debt restructuring would undermine the eligibility of Greek government bonds," an ECB spokesman quoted Stark as having said during a visit to Greece on Wednesday.
"A continuation of liquidity provision would be impossible."
The ECB accepts Greek and Irish government bonds as collateral in ECB liquidity operations regardless of their credit rating.
It accepts collateral at market value minus a predetermined haircut. Were Greece to restructure its debt, the market value would plummet and this would make its use as collateral difficult.
German daily Financial Times Deutschland reported on Thursday that ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet had warned that the 17-country bloc's central bank would stop accepting Greek government bonds as collateral if the country were to ask investors for a voluntary extension of bond maturities.
It said both Stark and fellow Executive Board member Lorenzo Bini-Smaghi had warned the ECB would be unable to allow banks to use Greek bonds in return for liquidity.
***
Stark all'attacco ...