10k bet on Greek default

I have about 10k in disposable savings and a pretty strong view Greece will default within the next month. How would you guys go about (potentially) making as much money on a Greece default?
As far as I know CDS aren't available to non-institutional investors (besides being really expensive at this point), what other options do I have?

 
manbearpig:
Greece is not going to default...no one will let them. I think Lehman was a big enough lesson, and the chain reaction that caused won't be anything compared to this.
^ ja
Get busy living
 
UFOinsider:
manbearpig:
Greece is not going to default...no one will let them. I think Lehman was a big enough lesson, and the chain reaction that caused won't be anything compared to this.
^ ja

well politicians who know s*^% about finance would

 

I know that the two are often compared but I think its a completely different situation with a completely different background (highly political). I would also count a "soft restructuring" or a moratorium as a default, which might not be as bad as a full default.

I like pickles...
 

"Greece sold 1.625 billion euros of 182-day bills, the nation’s debt agency said. Investors bid for 2.88 times the securities offered, the Public Debt Management Agency said.The U.S. sells $32 billion of three-year notes today, the first of three offerings totaling $66 billion. "--today's bloomberg article

See how the t-bills sell today. I think you should buy the dollar and euro, since one is bound to benefit. Use that as a hedging strategy..but depending on how the US sells t-bills today..wouldn't the Fed buy all of them as part of QE2? Is there a way of seeing the breakdown of who purchases bonds?

 
Best Response
yankeez6:
"Greece sold 1.625 billion euros of 182-day bills, the nation’s debt agency said. Investors bid for 2.88 times the securities offered, the Public Debt Management Agency said.The U.S. sells $32 billion of three-year notes today, the first of three offerings totaling $66 billion. "--today's bloomberg article

See how the t-bills sell today. I think you should buy the dollar and euro, since one is bound to benefit. Use that as a hedging strategy..but depending on how the US sells t-bills today..wouldn't the Fed buy all of them as part of QE2? Is there a way of seeing the breakdown of who purchases bonds?

If Greece defaults, don't you think it's going to be a huge blow to the Euro? EUR/CHF is already at 1.165 today... As far as I know, you can't see a breakdown of who purchases how much at these auctions...

Is restructuring considered a credit event that would trigger default? Why don't you find select companies that would be affected most by a default? NBG is an example, but it seems too risky at this point.
And buy CDS on them? Can I do that as a non-institutional?
I like pickles...
 
mk2012:
That last comment of mine was retarded, I could just short the stock which is probably what you meant...
Well if you have access to CDS markets, then yeah you could also buy CDS on corporates (not sure how much $ you need to buy a CDS contract) I originally meant short the position since that's probably more accessible to you than CDS.
 

A default may not be allowed to happen a'la Lehman bros but some sort of debt rollover type tactics may be used. You could get short but I think this is catching it right it the valey and remember downside is theoretically unlimited.

I have to return some video tapes.
 

what if they kick Greece out of the euro?

TheKid1:
I remember someone mentioned earlier in another thread, that Greek defaulting would be better for them, since they wont owe any more, but their economy would be shit for atleast 20 years.
 

And for all us non-institutional folks, the best way to profit from a Greece default may be purchasing stocks of US companies with lots of payables outstanding to the euro zone. Falling euro means less dollars out of the US customer's wallet. But, the european supplier probally has hedged against currecy risks, esp the euro dollar one..soo who can't afford a default besides Greece?

 

I wouldn't invest 10K right now, and especially not in Greece. I expect that it gets worse, especially now Portugal has been down rated and Italy is on its way and a next candidate in line would probably Belgium or so. I would wait one more month and than go short in Italian bonds and Italian financial institutions. There is more shitload on the way, believe me. Greece is just the top of the iceberg.

Buying CDS's would be the most convenient step to take. Another idea would be is to find a country that has a negative (auto)correlation regarding government bonds with those European countries and go long/short. If those options are not available to you, just wait a couple of months and go long on financials since those firms are damaged more heavily during these events than others.

The government was, during the end of the credit crisis, afraid that, when the next crises arises, the financial insititutions could not be helped again but could also not fail. In this 'Euro crisis' it isn't the financial institutions that cannot be helped and cannot let them go default, it is the countries that's worsening.

 

Quia est dolor amet. Dolorem accusantium et eius non ipsam. Et laudantium aut iste minus. Dicta dolorem ducimus perferendis ullam neque eos vitae. Sit perspiciatis dignissimos ducimus voluptatem.

Dolor minus ut consectetur provident. Tempora voluptates beatae libero quos enim. Placeat consequuntur voluptatibus ut at. Omnis provident laboriosam animi animi odit sed.

 

Aut eius voluptas voluptatum ea aut. Natus sit minima consequatur commodi exercitationem eaque et. Nobis fugit nihil dolores harum. Odit molestias magni quam quae. Corrupti saepe laboriosam officia sed qui.

Et ullam nobis enim nihil blanditiis fugiat. Aliquid incidunt amet quo quidem neque. Dignissimos nesciunt in enim animi esse rerum quibusdam ratione. Aspernatur deleniti iusto voluptates ad velit voluptate. Magnam cumque culpa consectetur sint ab impedit. Delectus rerum explicabo quae voluptatem rerum commodi.

Provident rem est perspiciatis corrupti molestias deleniti sunt. Accusantium fugiat aspernatur exercitationem consequuntur ex hic. Quo et et sequi itaque sit et et.

Et officia est possimus non commodi iure. Non voluptatum numquam error est earum quia. Nulla illo corporis fugiat qui maiores. Illum odio voluptas tempore earum et quidem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”