HALISTER1: Spain Debt Outlook Bearish With Short or Hedging Warranted: JPM

Spain Debt Outlook Bearish With Short or Hedging Warranted: JPM

(Bloomberg) -- Spain’s constitutional crisis over separatism in its Catalonia region is viewed with some complacency by investors when instead they should consider taking bearish positions, JPMorgan analysts say in note.
  • Recommends tactical hedges in Spanish credit
    • Weak sentiment may increase spread of Spanish corporate debt 10bps-15bps in near term, in universe of issuers that included Gas Natural, Repsol, Iberdrola
  • With Catalonia comprising about one-fifth of Spain’s economy, disruption from general strike or civil disobedience may affect companies
  • While crisis may get worse before it improves, doesn’t generate “systemic risk” to European credit
  • JPMorgan rates team recommends shorting 10-year Spanish govt bonds versus Portugal’s and Germany’s
  • NOTE: Catalan Police Endure Spanish Pressure Before Disputed Vote (1)
  • Should Catalan parliament attempt to declare unilateral succession from Spain, central government “would have no other option” but to suspend the region’s administration
  • Measures taken so far by central government to quash independence referendum planned for Oct. 1 “threaten to inflame the situation”
    • Therefore either of two “unpalatable outcomes” now more likely: vote is canceled; or referendum goes ahead with low voter turnout rate due to disruption, resulting in a “yes to independence” result
To contact the reporter on this story: Todd White in Madrid at twhite2@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Samuel Potter at spotter33@bloomberg.net Cecile Gutscher

Alert: HALISTER1
Source: BFW (Bloomberg First Word)

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