Spain has set Thursday for 2.5 billion euros of sovereign debt-is the extent expected, but at the cost of borrowing costs up to ten years, a sign that the country needs to reassure investors on its ability to curb its budget deficit.
The Spanish Treasury has now covered half of its funding program for the year, benefiting from the liquidity pumped into the financial system by the European Central Bank (ECB) at its two refinancing long-term ("LTRO") in December and February.
The Spanish Treasury has auctioned 1.12 billion euros of debt in two years and 1.42 billion euros of debt in ten years to increase coverage ratios, respectively, 3.3 and 2.4 against 2.0 and 2.2 at previous auctions of this type.
Performance of paper came out two years down to 3.463% against 3.495% at an auction in October, and that of ten years up to 5.743% against 5.403% in January.
European stock markets as the single currency have reduced their earnings a few minutes after the results of the auction, investors holding these mixed before returning color to the result of French a debt issue in line with expectations.
"The coverage ratios for both the two years since the decade are quite good, but yields are clearly higher," explains Nick Stamenkovic, bond strategist for Ria Capital Markets.
"The real problem of Spain remains a serious budget situation and growth. Until there are signs that the government is currently implementing its program of consolidation medium-term budget, and signs of life in the Spanish economy, investors will worry the path of the debt to GDP (gross domestic product) in the medium term ", says he.
BREATHLESSNESS
Secondary market, the Spanish bond yields climbed to ten years around 5.88% against 5.79% before the auction. It was back above 6% Monday, as investors worried the country's budget problems.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Wednesday to expect that Spain lacks its deficit targets set under the supervision of the European Union in 2012 and 2013. Impaired loans of Spanish banks have also reached in February to their highest level since October 1994, illustrating the fragility of the country's financial sector.
Spanish banks, in fact excluded from the primary bond market because of their toxic real estate assets, used a large share of loans from the ECB to buy sovereign debt issued by Madrid.
Meanwhile, foreign investors increasingly shun the Spanish debt: investors residing outside the country have reduced their holdings of Spanish sovereign debt to 42% in February, against 50 % two months earlier.
With half of its funding program in 2012 already covered the Spanish Treasury can now afford to issue debt at a slower pace if its costs borrowing remain high.
"The Treasury can afford to slow down (…) but Spain remains battered and locked in a negative feedback loop," said Jo Tomkins, strategist for 4Cast .
"The domestic banks have undoubtedly played a key role in the success of today's program, but we found increasing signs of slowing post-LTRO, and c is something that should be monitored carefully in the weeks and months ahead. "