Using a comprehensive dataset from German banks, we document the usage of sovereign credit default swaps (CDS) during the European sovereign debt crisis of 2008-2013. Banks used the sovereign CDS market to extend, rather than hedge, their long exposures to sovereign risk during this period....

We examine whether sovereign credit risk shocks emanating from the GIIPS countries had an effect on central European countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia (the Visegrad group). In addition to the GIIPS and Visegrad group countries we als include Austria, France and...

Using a comprehensive dataset from German banks, we document the usage of sovereign credit default swaps (CDS) during the European sovereign debt crisis of 2008-2013. Banks used the sovereign CDS market to extend, rather than hedge, their long exposures to sovereign risk during this period....