Moodys downgrades 9 european nations

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by workhorse, Feb 13, 2012.


  1. workhorse

    workhorse Monkey+

    Rating Action: Moody's adjusts ratings of 9 European sovereigns to capture downside risks



    Global Credit Research - 13 Feb 2012


    London, 13 February 2012 -- As anticipated in November 2011, Moody's Investors Service has today adjusted the sovereign debt ratings of selected EU countries in order to reflect their susceptibility to the growing financial and macroeconomic risks emanating from the euro area crisis and how these risks exacerbate the affected countries' own specific challenges.

    Moody's actions can be summarised as follows:
    - Austria: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative
    - France: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative
    - Italy: downgraded to A3 from A2, negative outlook
    - Malta: downgraded to A3 from A2, negative outlook
    - Portugal: downgraded to Ba3 from Ba2, negative outlook
    - Slovakia: downgraded to A2 from A1, negative outlook
    - Slovenia: downgraded to A2 from A1, negative outlook
    - Spain: downgraded to A3 from A1, negative outlook
    - United Kingdom: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative

    Please see the individual country specific statements below for more detailed information relating to the rating rationale and the sensitivity analysis for each affected sovereign issuer.

    The implications of these actions for directly and indirectly related ratings will be reported through separate press releases.

    The main drivers of today's actions are:

    - The uncertainty over (i) the euro area's prospects for institutional reform of its fiscal and economic framework and (ii) the resources that will be made available to deal with the crisis.
    - Europe's increasingly weak macroeconomic prospects, which threaten the implementation of domestic austerity programmes and the structural reforms that are needed to promote competitiveness.
    - The impact that Moody's believes these factors will continue to have on market confidence, which is likely to remain fragile, with a high potential for further shocks to funding conditions for stressed sovereigns and banks.

    To a varying degree, these factors are constraining the creditworthiness of all European sovereigns and exacerbating the susceptibility of a number of sovereigns to particular financial and macroeconomic exposures.

    Moody's has reflected these constraints and exposures in its decision to downgrade the government bond ratings of Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain as listed above. The outlook on the ratings of these countries remains negative given the continuing uncertainty over financing conditions over the next few quarters and its corresponding impact on creditworthiness.

    In addition, these constraints have also prompted Moody's to change to negative the outlooks on the Aaa ratings of Austria, France and the United Kingdom. The negative outlooks reflect the presence of a number of specific credit pressures that would exacerbate the susceptibility of these sovereigns' balance sheets, and of their ongoing austerity programmes, to any further deterioration in European economic conditions and financial landscape.

    An important factor limiting the magnitude of Moody's rating adjustments is the European authorities' commitment to preserving the monetary union and implementing whatever reforms are needed to restore market confidence. These rating actions therefore take into account the steps taken by euro area policymakers in agreeing to a framework to improve fiscal planning and control and measures adopted to stem the risk of contagion. Rest of article at Moody's adjusts ratings of 9 European sovereigns to capture downside risks
     
  2. Falcon15

    Falcon15 Falco Peregrinus

    You know I find it exceedingly amusing that the very agencies that hid the problems of and thererby allowed the crash in '08 to happen are once again the measuring stick by which people assess sovereign debt and creditworthiness. Guys, the world is broke as a joke. This is just exposure of that fact a little at a time, like a strip tease. If you understand the real problem - fiat currencies and the world markets - you will see they are only propping it up as long as they can. YMMV.
     
    Mountainman and TheEconomist like this.
  3. fedorthedog

    fedorthedog Monkey+++

    But like a strip tease in the end you see the naked truth and it may not be what you paid for. ;)
     
    Sapper John and Falcon15 like this.
  4. TheEconomist

    TheEconomist Creighton Bluejay

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