Moody’s rating agency downgrades Greece’s debt to junk. Moody’s rating agency has downgraded Greece’s credit rating further into junk territory over growing uncertainty about the country’s ability to make its debt payments. On Thursday, Moody’s slashed Athens’ rating to Caa2 from Caa1 and assigned it a “negative” outlook. The rating is just two steps away from the level signaling... 

International rating agency Moody’s has downgraded the long-term issuer rating of Ukraine to the second lowest Ca grade from Caa3, leaving the outlook negative and a high possibility of the country’s imminent default. “Although negotiations over the specific details of the restructuring are only now getting underway, Moody’s believes that the likelihood of a distressed exchange, and... 

S&P on Monday downgraded Russia’s credit grade to junk status. Rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded Russia’s credit rating to the speculative BB+ grade from BBB-. Analysts say that the decision of the rating agency was politically motivated. The speculative level means that securities that a BB+ state issues can only be good for short-term transactions to earn on their... 

Argentina’s credit rating was downgraded to “selective default” by Standard & Poor’s as the South American country missed Wednesday’s deadline for a grace period during ongoing negotiations with holdout debt holders. Wednesday is the cutoff for Argentina to make good on a $539 million payment to bondholders, which was placed on hold by US judge Thomas P. Griesa’s order tying that payment... 

For the first time in five years Standard & Poor’s has cut Russia’s credit rating to ‘BBB-‘, just above junk status. It warns the tension in Ukraine and ‘significant’ capital outflow could mean another downgrade. Moscow says it is “politically motivated.” “In our view, the tense geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine could see additional... 

Turkey’s credit rating has been downgraded as a result of political turmoil in the country. The international credit rating agency, Moody’s, has downgraded its outlook on Turkey over increased pressure on the country’s external financing position and weaker growth prospects. Moody’s on Friday changed the outlook from stable to negative, which puts the government’s investment-grade... 

Standard & Poor’s says the shutdown in total cost the US economy $24 billion, or $1.5 billion per day, the rating agency said Wednesday. The agency also estimated the shutdown will pare fourth quarter GDP by 0.6 percent. Obama has signed legislation that will avoid a technical debt default, ending the 16-day partial shutdown of the government that has cost the world’s largest economy... 

Thousands of Spaniards attend an anti-austerity demonstration in the capital Madrid, on June 16, 2013. Thousands of Spaniards have staged rallies across the country to express resentment against austerity measures, recession and the soaring rate of unemployment in the country. The protests took place on Sunday in 29 cities including the capital Madrid, the country’s second-largest city, Barcelona,... 

The U.S. Justice Department found those to blame in the global crisis of the late 2000s. According to the American authorities, this is Standard & Poor’s. The accused is confused, while the U.S. Justice Department is preparing a lawsuit against the agency. It wants to make Standard & Poor’s accountable for publishing inflated ratings of mortgage bonds. Allegedly, this publication... 

Credit rating heavyweight Moody’s Investors Service has stripped France of its top AAA rating to Aa1 with a negative outlook, sending a warning to President Hollande’s endeavours to rebuild French economic growth and credibility. ­Moody’s said its decision to downgrade Europe’s second largest economy reflects France’s deteriorating economic outlook, the recession in the wider Eurozone... 

Rating agency Standard & Poor’s has downgraded Spain’s credit rating by two notches, warning that the deepening economic recession is limiting the government’s options. S&P warned that rising unemployment and harsh austerity measures are likely to intensify social unrest and cause further friction between Spain’s central and regional governments. “The downgrade... 

Fitch says the downgrade reflects negative economic and market environment in Spain. Fitch credit ratings agency has downgraded Spain’s rating by three notches citing the country’s banking crisis, mushrooming debt and recession as the main reasons for the downgrade. The international agency announced on Thursday that it has cut Spain’s long-term foreign and local currency to ‘BBB’... 

Rating agency DBRS Incorporated has upgraded its ratings on Argentina´s long-term foreign and local currency securities to “B” from “B (low)”. According to the international report, strong growth in neighboring Brazil -Argentina’s main trade partner- and highly favorable world agricultural commodity prices have led to a strong recovery in 2010-2011 GDP growth. However, the Canadian... 

Standard and Poor's dropped Italy's credit rating from A+ to A. Standard & Poor’s drops credit rating to A from A+, blaming sluggish economy and ineffective government reforms. Italy has had its sovereign credit rating cut by Standard and Poor’s, with the ratings agency keeping the country’s outlook on negative in a surprise move that may add to contagion fears in the...