Correlation breakdown, copula credit default models and arbitrage

The recent "correlation breakdown" in the modeling of credit default swaps, in which model correlations had to exceed 100% in order to reproduce market prices of supersenior tranches, is analyzed and argued to be a fundamental market inconsistency rather than an inadequacy of the specific model. As a consequence, markets under such conditions are exposed to the possibility of arbitrage. The general construction of arbitrage portfolios under specific conditions is presented.