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Recent Greek Bailout a Sign of Political Crisis and Syriza Failure

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning • @JimBach22 -

Greek bailout

It's hard to imagine a situation where this most recent 86 billion euro ($94.1 billion) Greek bailout will succeed where the first 110 billion euro ($120.4 billion) Greek bailout in 2010 failed.

Or where the second 130 billion euro ($142.2 billion) Greek bailout in 2012 also failed.

Here's what is going to happen with this recent round of funding, and what is to become of Greece...

The True Story Behind the Greek Debt Crisis: Why Hasn’t Greece Defaulted on Its Debt Yet?

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning • @JimBach22 -

Greek Debt Crisis

For most of the Greek debt crisis the reality has been well-known. Even if it was only initially discussed among the staffers and in the back offices of the International Monetary Fund, a Greek default has always been inevitable.

So now that Greece is €328 billion in the hole – a 175% debt-to-GDP ratio – exactly why hasn’t Greece defaulted on its debt yet?

Here’s the real story behind the Greek debt crisis…

Financial News Today Ignores the Reality Facing Greece and the Eurozone

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning • @JimBach22 -

financial news today

The financial news today is abuzz with headlines about the Greek debt crisis.

The biggest development came with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde being quoted as saying that "a Greek exit is a possibility," adding the IMF to the chorus of Greek creditors who have raising the stakes on a possible "Grexit."

But here's what's getting lost in that conversation...

What Greek Debt Talks Mean for U.S. Investors

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning • @JimBach22 -

greek debt talks

Financial News Today: The Greek debt talks that have been playing out over the past week have pitted Germany against Greece.

Of course, there's a smattering of Eurozone finance ministers offering their voice to the meeting, but one player seems conspicuously absent from these talks.

We'll discuss that in a moment. But first, here's a roundup of the financial news today...

After Eurozone Meeting Today, Will Greece Play Russian Wild Card?

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning • @JimBach22 -

Eurozone meeting

As an emergency Eurozone meeting today (Wednesday) convenes to discuss a possible Greek debt deal, observers are underestimating Greece.

Surely Germany holds all the cards in negotiating a Greek debt deal, and has a lot of power how much austerity Athens may have to stomach.

But Greece is not without a wild card of its own...

What Greek Election Results Mean for the Euro in 2015

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning • @JimBach22 -

What greek election results mean for the euro

The Greek election results have ushered in a new political era for Greece.

And this will certainly impact the euro in 2015.

Here's what the Syriza victory means for the euro as a whole, and how you can play it for gains in 2015...

Stock Market Today: This Bank Stock Faces More Backlash

By , Associate Editor, Money Morning -

The Greek elections did not generate any significant movement in the stock market today, which is especially bad news for one particular bank stock that's taking a lot of heat from investors.

Greece decided not to leave the euro Sunday as the pro-bailout New Democracy party narrowly won elections tallying just over 30% of the vote. Investors had feared a win by an anti-austerity movement could lead to a breakup of the euro and possibly the European Union.

That's all good news except stock markets opened lower Monday following the announcement.

Maybe investors really wanted the worst to happen concerning Greece, insuring more action by the Federal Reserve when they meet later this week. QE3 is still a possibility but it seems that some are disappointed by the Greek elections, which could just be a postponement to Greece's eventual "Grexit" from the euro.

European markets rallied following the election results, but by the time U.S. markets opened investor sentiment had become neutral. It seems that until the Fed's meeting concludes on Wednesday investors will be stuck waiting for more news out of Europe to guide them.

One sector that has been vilified recently is financial stocks, and today's headliner is Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS).

The Wall Street Journal this morning highlighted Morgan Stanley for its leading role in Facebook's IPO debacle.

To continue reading, please click here...

Eurozone Bailout Package: What's Next for Greece

By , Contributing Writer, Money Morning -

The question regarding whether or not Greece will stick with the Eurozone got at least a short-term answer after the country's elections Sunday, when the conservative, pro-bailout New Democracy party narrowly won the crucial vote.

But Greece's trials and tribulations are far from over, and the relief is temporary. Concerns are increasing over the global cost of a Eurozone bailout package as the mounting woes in Spain and Italy persist.

Citizens of Greece are clamoring for change, but many recognize that the election results are no quick fix. There was no cheering in Greece and global markets reacted cautiously following the vote.

Borrowing costs across Europe rose with Spain taking the lead. The yield on Spain's 10-year bonds spiked to a euro-era high of 7.18%. A reading above 7% raises a red flag that a nation may be approaching the need for a bailout.

Italian bonds also sold off on fears that if Spain is in need of a bailout, an Italy bailout package might not be far off. Italian bonds' 10-year yields are around 6%.

While the Greek election results staved off a calamity, they failed to fix the wider problems facing Greece and its struggling neighbors.

Moody's Analytics' chief economist Mark Zandi told USA Today, "We dodged a bullet, but they've got more bullets coming."

To continue reading, please click here...

Eurozone Debt Crisis: The Greek Elections are a Make or Break Moment

By , Global Investing Specialist, Money Morning -

What happens this Sunday, June 17 , may be the trigger for a final resolution of the Eurozone debt crisis.

Now I understand that you probably don't follow Greek elections. But this is one you'll want to keep an eye on. At the moment, it dwarfs the contest between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama.

In fact, come Monday it will be what every banker, politician and trader is talking about.

In the balance is the very fate of the Eurozone.
The
ripple effects could be enough to actually bring the EU down.

That's the first part of the story. Admittedly, it's not a very pleasant one.

The second part concerns your portfolio, since the solutions will involve more money-printing and, in the long run, more inflation.

But you needn't worry. We've already read the central banker's playbook for you.

In this case, the message is clear. Don't buy Europe. But do buy hard assets -- whether gold, oil, or other commodities.

These safe-havens are one of the best ways to hedge yourself against these characters and their money printing schemes.

Now that you know why Sunday is so important, here is how it will likely play out-in both the short term and in the long run.

To continue reading, please click here...