Euro CDS: Banks Hit On Peripherals/Capital Raising
LONDON, May 23 (MNI) - European credit markets have had a very negative session with higher beta financials and cyclicals widening sharply in places. The move comes as European bourses have also broken down through the ranges seen over the past few weeks on increasing concerns over a Greek restructuring of default.
In the wake of S&P putting Italy on negative watch there was initially some dramatic widening in Italian banks, but most benchmarks had later moved off their worst levels, albeit still 6-10 basis points wider on the day. Elsewhere, sub debt is underperforming with indices 10bps wider at 258bps.
With Greek spreads today hitting an eye watering 13.75% and technical support being broken in a number of key stock and credit indices, we look set to explore further downside short term. Xover is currently 10bps wider at 371bps.
European bank shares have been hammered today with peripheral related institutions bearing the brunt of the sell off. Spanish and Italian banks have seen in excess of 1% declines. Commerzbank shares, however, are by far the worst performers after the bank said it wants to raise about E5.3 billion by selling new shares. In all, 2.44 bln shares are to be sold at E2.18 a piece and existing shareholders will be allowed to subscribe to 10 new shares for every 11 held.
This is expected to bring the bank's Tier I capital ratio to 8.8%, basically in line with peers and the capital injection will allow the bank to repay state aid. The steep sell off comes as the discount on the new shares is substantially bigger than the market was expecting. CDS in the banks is also underperforming a little, widening nearly 8bps to 155bps.
Elsewhere in Italy, Intesa Sanpaolo will begin selling E5 bln worth of new shares at E1.369 a piece today. The bank will offer two common shares for every seven common savings shares held. In announcing the pricing of the deal last Thursday the bank said its pro-forma core Tier 1 ratio after the capital increase would be 9.8%, one of the strongest in Italy.
Intesa Sanpaolo is one of a number of Italian banks that have announced rights issues ahead of upcoming EU stress tests. Shares in Intesa Sanpaolo are slightly lower today in line with the market, but CDS is 8bps wider at 146bps, basically in line with the move in Italian sovereign debt.
Late Friday, Credit Agricole S.A. and core subsidiaries had their ratings lowered by S&P To 'A+/A-1' (outlook stable) following action on Greece. S&P said, on May 9, 2011, that it lowered its sovereign ratings on Greece to 'B/C' from 'BB-/B' and maintained them on CreditWatch negative, reflecting rising rescheduling risk for Greece's sovereign debt.
"We consider that French banking group Credit Agricole (GCA) has a significant sensitivity to Greece's creditworthiness and economic prospects, primarily through subsidiary Emporiki's funding needs and exposure to local credit risk, therefore we are lowering our ratings on Credit Agricole S.A. and its related core subsidiaries to 'A+/A-1' from 'AA-/A-1+'," S&P said.
"The stable outlook reflects our view that GCA's businesses are performing well, and that the group has a strong retained earnings capacity which would allow it to absorb possible losses from Greek exposures and build up capital at a pace, and up to a level, which we see as consistent with the 'A+' rating," S&P added.
The agency cited the heightened risk of credit losses or writedowns at CA's Greek banking unit for the move.
CA's senior CDS is little changed on the downgrade at 134bps, but sub debt in the bank is 4bps wider at 261bps. This is much in line with the general widening in sub debt this morning.
(imarketnews.com)