Greece about to leave Euro?

As in within a week? Could Milton Friedman be proving his brilliance from beyond the grave? http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article7140270.ece THE Greek government has been advised by British economists to leave the euro and default on its €300 billion (£255 billion) debt to save its economy. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), a London-based consultancy, has warned Greek ministers they will be unable to escape their debt trap without devaluing their own currency to boost exports. The only way this can happen is if Greece returns to its own currency. Greek politicians have played down the prospect of abandoning the euro, which could lead to the break-up of the single currency. Speaking from Athens yesterday, Doug McWilliams, chief executive of the CEBR, said: “Leaving the euro would mean the new currency will fall by a minimum of 15%. But as the national debt is valued in euros, this would raise the debt from its current level of 120% of GDP to 140% overnight. Related Links Spain races to avert banking crisis The Eurosceptic case for saving the euro “So part of the package of leaving the euro must be to convert the debt into the new domestic currency unilaterally.” Greece’s departure from the euro would prove disastrous for German and French banks, to which it owes billions of euros. McWilliams called the move “virtually inevitable” and said other members may follow. “The only question is the timing,” he said. “The other issue is the extent of contagion. Spain would probably be forced to follow suit, and probably Portugal and Italy, though the Italian debt position is less serious. “Could this be the last weekend of the single currency? Quite possibly, yes.”

not sure if they need to, given how quickly the euro is falling anyway http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/charts/chartdl.aspx?Symbol=/EURUS&&ShowChtBt=Refresh+Chart&DateRangeForm=1&CP=0&PT=7&C9=1&ComparisonsForm=1&CE=0&DisplayForm=1&D4=1&D5=0&D3=0&ViewType=0&PeriodType=7

I think nothing of that scale will happen. I believe what will happen however is a long period of fiscal austerity and restructuring for PIGS, which could plunge the Euro zone in some kind of depression.

All those that are short the Euro would be so flipping money. As much as I hate to holiday in Europe, I would be forced to with the FX rate so weak if that were to happen.