Business

As we enter the critical spring borrowing base redetermination season, which as we previewed previously is the biggest threat to near-insolvent energy companies whose banks may, and in many cases will, decide their assets are worth far less and as a result dramtically cut their revolver availability, one of the biggest question marks was how generous would the banks of troubled gas giant Chesapeake be, whose $4 billion credit facility is one of the few things keeping the company still afloat. 

Submitted by Lance Roberts via RealInvestmentAdvice.com,

YELLEN IS YELLIN’ & THE MARKET’S ARE LISTENIN’

If you like volatility, you had to love this past week. After sliding 22 points on Tuesday, the market rebounded sharply on Wednesday, gave up those plus more on Thursday, and as of Friday is struggling to stay positive.

It's official, I'm calling a banking crisis in Europe. Things didn't go well the last time I did this. Of course, many will say, "But the rating agencies have learned their collective lessons. They would most assuredely warn us if the European banks are close to going bust, right?!!!". Yeah, right! Reference our past research note on so-called trusted parties in private blockchains for banks. Those interested in purchasing the 22 page report on what is likely the first major bank to fall victim to the coming Pan-European Banking Crisis can do so here. All others, feel free to read on...

First it was the Saudis who said they would not cap oil output unless Iran joins the production freeze, which it won't. And now, Bloomberg reports citing APS, that Russia was in on the plot to make the Doha meeting a total and complete farce.

• ALGERIA SAYS DOHA TALKS AIM TO CAP OUTPUT AT JAN. LEVELS: APS
• ALGERIA'S KHEBRI SAYS SOME OIL PRODUCERS REFUSE OUTPUT CUT: APS
• ALGERIA OIL MINISTER SAYS RUSSIA REFUSED TO CUT OUTPUT: APS

More details:

First, the facts, courtesy of Bloomberg:

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This is how Forbes laid out the threat of the Q1 earnings collapse just 4 months ago:

Turns out not only was it likely but Q1 earnings are about to plunge the most in 8 years, which means that now that the threat has materialized, it is time for spin. A lot of spin. courtesy of everyone.

First Reuters:

Then MarketWatch: