Portuguese and Irish government bonds fell on mounting concern that some nations on Europe’s periphery will be forced to restructure their debt.
Irish 10-year securities plunged for a 13th day after clearing house LCH Clearnet Ltd. yesterday demanded its clients place a larger deposit when trading the debt. Spanish bonds headed for a 13th day of declines. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said yesterday that investors must share in the cost of safeguarding sovereign debt. German bunds advanced on demand for the safest assets.
“Lagarde’s comments mentioned restructuring, and that’s another nail in the coffin†for peripheral debt, said Steven Major, global head of fixed-income research at HSBC Holdings Plc in London. “There’s still a big constituency of investors and traders who have not recognized until now that restructuring could happen.â€
