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... 

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... 

A new agency is about to appear in the rating business that will be created by the Russians, Chinese and Americans. The agency Universal Credit Rating Group that claims to be a global player, came into being in Beijing and is the joint brainchild of the Chinese rating agency Dagong Global, the American Egan-Jones, and Russian RusRating. Earlier, AFP reported that the Chinese rating agency Dagong planned... 

The Cypriot government has issued a statement confirming that it has officially made an EU bailout bid, citing heavy exposure to debt-stricken Greece. This makes it the fifth state within the currency union to ask for help. The request comes just days before a deadline to recapitalize one of the country’s largest banks. “The purpose of the required assistance is to contain the risks to the Cypriot... 

Only three months after Standard & Poor’s downgraded America’s credit rating, the other two top agencies — Moody’s and Fitch — could be considering a downgrade of their own in the very near future. This news comes from a report out of one of the biggest names in the banking industry, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, issued on Friday. “The credit rating agencies have strongly suggested...