Debt protection cost on Irish financials increases over holidays

The cost of insuring against a default of one of Ireland's three big financial institutions rose over the Christmas and New Year period, as five-year credit default swaps (CDSs) on Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank debt continued to trade up-front.

Allied Irish CDS widened from 20% at 13:00 on December 22, 2010, to 21.5% at 13:00 on January 4. During the same period, Bank of Ireland CDSs rose from 13.5% to 15%, while those of Anglo Irish rose from 30.5% to 31%, accord