Quote from sle:
well, if you believe this is a temporary dislocation that will revert to "normal" soon - be a hero and sell equity protection vs. buy mezz. You can be delta neutral (at least in theory), pick up 200-250 bp carry, and take out enough cash to account for about the first 3 defaults in the CDX index. Whatever desk you do this trade with will love you - make sure you at least get some high class strippers out of it.
On the other hand, if you believe that this whole thing is an augur of even worse credit contagion ahead, then just buy mezz protection. It's so cheap right now. I guarantee you can't lose money. I want you to drive out of here in a new synthetic tranche today. You have to ask your wife? Come on, who wears the pants in this family?

Quote from sle:
well, if you believe this is a temporary dislocation that will revert to "normal" soon - be a hero and sell equity protection vs. buy mezz. You can be delta neutral (at least in theory), pick up 200-250 bp carry, and take out enough cash to account for about the first 3 defaults in the CDX index. Whatever desk you do this trade with will love you - make sure you at least get some high class strippers out of it.
On the other hand, if you believe that this whole thing is an augur of even worse credit contagion ahead, then just buy mezz protection. It's so cheap right now. I guarantee you can't lose money. I want you to drive out of here in a new synthetic tranche today. You have to ask your wife? Come on, who wears the pants in this family?