by Fruitcake on Wed Mar 27, 2013 5:26 pm
Euro is showing real weakness in the markets.
This is the latest from Reuters (with a few of my observations in bold italics)
The Central Bank said banks would open their doors at midday (5 a.m. EST) on Thursday after nearly two weeks when Cypriots could get cash only through limited ATM withdrawals, while the government hashed out the rescue to stave off financial ruin.
Among measures imposed to prevent savers from stripping the bank vaults clean when the doors open: withdrawals will be capped at 300 euros ($380) per day, travelers may take no more than 3,000 euros abroad per trip, and funds can be sent abroad only by businesses that can prove they are paying for imports.
The European Central Bank delivered extra banknotes to Cypriot banks on Wednesday evening to meet demand, a source familiar with the situation said. The ECB declined to comment. well they would wouldn't they
At least three container trucks loaded with cash pulled up inside the compound of the central bank in Nicosia in early evening, a Cyprus central bank source said. A helicopter hovered overhead and police with rifles were stationed around the compound.
The controls, announced in a finance ministry decree, would allow unlimited use of credit cards within Cyprus, but set a monthly limit of 5,000 euros for Cypriots using credit cards abroad. Payment by cheques would be banned.
The central bank would review all commercial transactions between 5,000 and 200,000 euros, and scrutinize any larger transactions on a case-by-case basis. Well that's going to be great for the island economy. It doesn't take the brains of a rocket scientist to know that when inspectors move in to a situation such as this, the whole process pretty much freezes up completely.
A central bank official said the measures would initially be imposed for four days, and would be reviewed and relaxed as soon as possible. yeah right....if I could sell 2-3 months on a spread I would...in fact I might even sell 6-9 months
"The rationale is that these measures will be reviewed on a daily basis, so if there is the possibility of relaxing them we will," Yiangos Demetriou, head of internal audit at the Central Bank, said on state television. that's more like it. After saying it would be a matter of days, they then start the softening up process of the people.
Cyprus's financial difficulties have sent tremors through the already fragile single European currency. The imposition of capital controls has led economists to suggest that a second-class "Cyprus euro" could emerge, with currency trapped on the island worth less than money that can be freely used abroad. glad to see you guys are right on the pace
Cyprus has a huge financial sector with 68 billion euros in deposits, operating as an offshore haven for rich Russians and other foreigners. Its bailout is the first time that EU officials have demanded bank depositors take losses as the price of a rescue, causing outrage on the streets and fear that savers will flee with their cash. errr...I think this sentence should start Cyprus used to have a huge financial sector, which mysteriously underwent a huge reduction over the last few months....
Finance Minister Michael Sarris has said capital controls will be "within the realms of reason". But Cypriots, fearing for their savings and angered by the bailout deal struck on Monday in Brussels, are expected to besiege banks. quite right too, these people have been royally screwed.
Under the bailout, Cyprus's second largest bank will be closed and its guaranteed deposits of up to 100,000 euros transferred to the biggest bank. Deposits of more than 100,000 euros at both banks would be frozen.
Big depositors will lose money, but the authorities say deposits up to 100,000 euros will be protected, a reversal from an earlier plan that would have hit small depositors as well.
Cypriots have taken to the streets of Nicosia in their thousands to protest against a bailout deal that will push their country into an economic slump and cost many their jobs. make that 'cost most of them their jobs'
Some 2,500 protesters gathered outside the presidential palace on Wednesday, waving banners and flags. They chanted: "I'll pay nothing; I owe nothing." sorry guys, the EU politburo doesn't listen to the ordinary person, they are too busy building their own nests at your expense
European leaders said the bailout deal averted a chaotic national bankruptcy that might have forced Cyprus out of the euro. and this would have been worse in what way????
Critics said the capital controls, which contradict the EU principle of free flow of money and goods, might be hard to give up. you betcha....
"This is a typical set of exchange control measures, more reminiscent of Latin America or Africa," said Bob Lyddon, General Secretary of the international banking association IBOS.
He doubted that they would be in force for only a matter of days. "These are permanent controls until the economy recovers," he said.
A Reuters poll of economists this week showed 30 out of 46 believed the controls would last months, while 13 expected they would endure a matter of weeks. Three said they could last years.
POPULAR ANGER
The terms of the 10-billion euro ($13-billion) rescue from the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank have stirred popular anger within Cyprus at the country's partners in the EU, notably Germany, the bloc's main paymaster and fiercest advocate of austerity. so no change there then. For the record, I don't think the Germans are the main offenders here.
The measures have caused alarm among ordinary Cypriots, who worry that they will not be able to pay their bills or draw wages normally paid by cheque.
A 42-year-old Romanian hotel maid, who gave her name as Maria, said she was worried she would not be able to cash her pay cheque due on Friday.
"What shall I do?" she asked. "Hold up the cheque and look at it?" yes my dear, take a good look at it, then soak gently in water and wipe your rear with it.
Interestingly, word crosses my desk that the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are filled to the brim with Euros. This has been a steady incoming flow over the last couple of months. I cannot imagine how or why this might be, can you? Answers kept to yourselves please.
I do truly fear for Cyprus now. Their banking industry (if one can refer to it as such) is annihilated, their tourism will do a fair impression of collapsing dominoes. I very much doubt many Germans will be wending their way down there this year, do you? After all, the German tourist spend was pretty large in the tourism sector. Apart from which, with prices now likely to rocket on the island, Turkey will be considerably cheaper as a destination for those sun loving Germans and North Europeans. I would be interested to see what those here who think about such things forecast the contraction of the Cypriot economy will be over the next 3 years. My best guess is 20%
Due to current economic conditions the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off