'Imminent' Greek Default Is Manageable: Citi
By Steve Goldstein
Published October 26, 2011
| MarketWatch Pulse
WASHINGTON -- A Greek sovereign default involving deep restructuring appears imminent, but the risk to financial stability is manageable, according to Citi economists Willem Buiter and Ebrahim Rahbari in a note published Wednesday. The economists say parallels with
Lehman Brothers' default are misplaced -- Lehman's balance sheet was larger and much more complex, and the credit event was accompanied by the
Washington Mutual default,
American International Group rescue and the initial Congressional rejection of the
Troubled Asset Relief Program. The economists further argued that not triggering credit-default payments on Greece in the case of a deep restructuring would be more damaging than triggering them. "Avoiding triggering CDS in the Greek case would likely be more damaging, as it would disqualify an entire asset class and further erode policymaker credibility," they wrote.
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