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French Rating Agency Fitch Affirms US At AAA, Outlook Stable
A French-owned rating agency (the same country that currently has a short-selling ban) just did all it can not to tip the boat. What can one say but "truly a gutsy call." Unlike S&P which looks at such obsolete things as fundamentals and realistic projections, Fitch instead relies on something far more intangible: "its pivotal role in the global financial system and the flexible, diversified and wealthy economy that provides its revenue base." In other words, it's rated AAA... because it is rated AAA. Somehow we doubt Fitch will take the initiative to be the first to downgrade France... That said even Fitch had some pseudo-harsh words: "Despite its exceptional creditworthiness, the fiscal profile of the US government has deteriorated sharply and is set to become an outlier relative to 'AAA' peers. The overall level of general government debt, which includes debt incurred by states and local governments, is estimated by Fitch to reach 94% of GDP this year, the highest amongst 'AAA' sovereigns. However, federal government indebtedness is lower than in other major 'AAA'-rated central governments. Fitch estimates that federal debt held by the public will be equivalent to approximately 70% of GDP this year compared to around 75% for the UK ('AAA') and France ('AAA')." So, record debt for a AAA-rated country, check, but... AAA-rated. So all is good.
Full Fitch Text:
Fitch Ratings has affirmed the United States (US) Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) and Fitch-rated US Treasury security ratings at 'AAA'. Fitch has simultaneously affirmed the US Country Ceiling at 'AAA' and the Short-term foreign currency rating at 'F1+'. The Outlook on the Long-term ratings is Stable.
The affirmation of the US 'AAA' sovereign rating reflects the fact that the key pillars of US's exceptional creditworthiness remains intact: its pivotal role in the global financial system and the flexible, diversified and wealthy economy that provides its revenue base. Monetary and exchange rate flexibility further enhances the capacity of the economy to absorb and adjust to 'shocks'.
Fitch will review its fiscal projections in light of the outcome of the deliberations of the Joint Select committee (due by end November) as well as its near and medium-term economic outlook for the US by the end of the year. An upward revision to Fitch's medium to long-term projections for public debt either as a result of weaker than expected economic recovery or the failure of the Joint Select Committee to reach agreement on at least USD1.2trn of deficit-reduction measures would likely result in negative rating action. The rating action would most likely be a revision of the rating Outlook to Negative, which would indicate a greater than 50% chance of a downgrade over a two-year horizon. Less likely would be a one-notch downgrade.
US sovereign liabilities, both the dollar and Treasury securities, remain the global benchmark and accordingly the US credit profile benefits from unparalleled financing flexibility and enhanced debt tolerance, even relative to other large 'AAA'-rated sovereigns. The US dollar's status as the pre-eminent global reserve currency and depth of the US Treasury market render financing risks minimal and underpin a low cost of fiscal funding.
The US economy remains one of the most productive in the world, reflected in levels of income per head that are substantially higher than the 'AAA' median and other major 'AAA' sovereigns. The institutional, legal and financial infrastructure supports business growth and innovation and Fitch continues to forecast that the US economy (and tax base) will, over the medium term, be one of the most dynamic amongst its high-grade and 'AAA' peers and support the stabilisation and eventual reduction in government indebtedness. Fitch's current assessment is that the US economic recovery will regain momentum and that a period of above trend growth will subsequently be followed by growth of at least 2.25% over the long term.
As underscored by the challenges facing some European governments in securing investor confidence in their long-run solvency, the gap between government cost of borrowing and economic growth - the interest rate-growth differential (IRGD) - is crucial. For the US, the IRGD has historically been more favourable than that faced by its high-grade and 'AAA' peers. Fitch expects this to continue over the medium term as low nominal and real interest rates persist, underpinned by the US's dollar's continued pre-eminence as the global reserve currency and Fitch's assessment of medium-term growth prospects relative to peers.
Despite its exceptional creditworthiness, the fiscal profile of the US government has deteriorated sharply and is set to become an outlier relative to 'AAA' peers. The overall level of general government debt, which includes debt incurred by states and local governments, is estimated by Fitch to reach 94% of GDP this year, the highest amongst 'AAA' sovereigns. However, federal government indebtedness is lower than in other major 'AAA'-rated central governments. Fitch estimates that federal debt held by the public will be equivalent to approximately 70% of GDP this year compared to around 75% for the UK ('AAA') and France ('AAA').
Fitch's analysis of the Budget Control Act (BCA 2011) passed into law on August 2 implies USD4.1trn of deficit reduction over the ten years to 2021 relative to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) 'alternative fiscal scenario' and Fitch's previous basecase projections and, if fully implemented, would bring US public finances materially closer to a sustainable path. Because the BCA 2011 sets absolute caps on discretionary spending relative to the CBO March 2011 baseline, the overall level of savings on discretionary spending relative to the CBO's alternative fiscal scenario (ie. the 'current or no policy change' scenario) is USD2.9trn. Combined with the USD1.2trn of spending cuts implied by automatic across-the-board spending cuts ('sequestration') in the event that the Joint Select Committee does not reach agreement, the BCA 2011 implies at least USD4.1trn of deficit reduction relative to the CBO's 'alternative fiscal scenario'.
The BCA 2011 has tasked a bi-partisan Congressional Joint Select Committee to agree USD1.5trn of deficit-reduction measures by end-November 2011. In the event that the joint committee fails to secure a majority agreement on deficit reduction measures of at least USD1.2trn that could be enacted by January 15 2012, the Act stipulates automatic across-the-board cuts to spending split evenly between security and non-security programs beginning in FY2013. The automatic cuts would be targeted to reduce the deficit by USD1.2trn over the nine years to FY2021. Social Security, Medicaid and unemployment insurance programs would be exempt from 'sequestration' and revenue measures are not part of this 'enforcement mechanism'. However, the 'sequestration' would only come into effect from January 2013 and could be over-turned by the existing or future Congress and Administration.
Fitch currently projects federal debt held by the public and gross general government debt stabilising in the latter half of the decade at 85% and 105% of GDP, respectively, higher than for any other currently 'AAA'-rated sovereign. In Fitch's opinion, this is at the limit of the level of government indebtedness that would be consistent with the US retaining its 'AAA' status despite its underlying strengths. Higher levels of indebtedness would limit the scope for counter-cyclical fiscal policies and the US government's ability to respond to future economic and financial crises.
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Never heard of Fitch.
Even the Algobots are not impressed!
our yields sugggest quadruple A. Same with Japan
pentuple A, bitchez
http://azizonomics.com/2011/08/16/krugman-calls-for-alien-invasion/
Aliens, Aliens, Aliens, Aliens, Aliens
We need a convocation of the notables, just like they are doing in Europe.
Oh, I forgot.. we are doing that with a “super-congress”.
Of course we are AAA to the French regarding our “deficit of revenues.”
History does not repeat, but it rhymes..
http://intellectualtakeout.org/blog/debt-america-can-learn-french
chuckle...
Fitch: the act of attempting to scratch an itch that can't be touched. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqP9h-oaFag
That's what my new girl friend use to say.
But you have heard of Fetch. As in Fetch the Fiat.
they should be banned
I wonder how much the ChairSatan and the other evil doers paid them?
I hope not too much, its totaly worthless.
They have 2 mayor sources of income:
1. Ratings for hire
2. Their Google pay for clicks adds on their website.
And the rumor goes that their advertisings on their site aren't performing that well...
good thing ratings aren't political motivated....
UNLIKE THE EUROSONG FESTIVAL WHERE POINTS ARE ALWAYS GIVEN ON A POLITICAL VIEW!!!!!
Father Ted and Dougal was robbed I tell ya, My Lovely Horse was a fantastic song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVMcgWhg
GH, as a ousider, check out one of Belgium's eurosong artists:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfUW1ko8PTE
and now tell me how it's possible that didn't win?
90 seconds was all I could take of that!
I only lasted 12 seconds for the time it took to go back here
Sarkosy wears triple SSS childrens shirts and pants and has to stand on a chair to make out with his wife!
makes you wonder how he got his wife pregnant he?
Nope.
The snake always manages to find the home hole.
he's got a telescopic weiner dog
The USA is still AAA cuz we really want to keep France at AAA. Our civil defense depends on it. Thank you, ur merci beaucoup, French Fitch.
French? http://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/AboutFitch.faces?context=1&detail=3
Oui
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitch_Group
...mais je pense en parle anglais
really? who cares?
at this point why not just rate Americancan AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA++++++?
it ain't gonna change jackshit!
This guy cares:
http://static0.hln.be/static/photo/2011/3/6/7/20110816084440/media_l_4322902.jpg
there is somthing transcendental about that photo
There's that goddamn 70% debt to GDP ratio again. What a bunch of fucking liars...
same shit w/ french twist..
SS debt is not a debt.. stoped reading on sentence..
alx
and the ponzi lives on
Yeah.....the French rate us AAA....that really makes me sleep better at night. Hey...wait....are the these the same folks that invented the Maginot Line ?
They can say all they want, but their premise is simple. The US can just print more dollars and thus will never default. The value of those future dollars doesn't play a part in the rating process.
Next!
They do not print, but borrow. They will never print because convertibility from RFN into lowfull money is only suspended not abandoned, its transitory.
OK, it lasts already 40 years, but what is 40 years in a lifetime of great empires.
CBOE, etc...just temp unavail for trading on IB...FYI.
Well France since you think US debt is so great, why dont YOU buy up all our Treasuries?
Why are my posts going bye bye???
maybe your ratings got downgraded by France?
I should be eating humble pie since my August 15th, omen filled call for global financial disaster, especially Dollar/Fed crash was such a whimper. Everything is up. Well, the Indian market was down, but it hardly matters, really.
Silver range-bound, gold up, dollar (Up?).
And the US of A is AAA. Mirror madhouse.
ORI
Timelines are tricky, and I believe theyre FAR behind their timeline for the shit hitting the fan. They got cold feet?
BTW what ever happened to QE3? Havent even heard it mentioned in a week. Somethings rotten in Denmark.
Look this shit is coming down soon, the american patient has been knocked out so many times now he is on his knees puking blood
SD-1
No mention of QE3 because they gotta make the sheep bleat for it. Please stop the pain and give me QE3. Pretty please with ice cream on it? Not enough pain yet to roll it out even on the rumour mill.
Looks like one more leg down will do it.
OK, thats my point! Where is the leg down? Even last weeks market drops didnt cause a bit of concern anywhere, every -500 day was met by a +500 day....so my question still stands 'where is any market fear and panic at all'?
Time-lines are tricky indeed. The NUMBer of tricks up their sleeves are without end seemingly. With the market mostly left to algos, us humans don't really seem to matter eh?
Anc actually both the debt ceiling and qe3 are two phrases that seem to have dis-appeared in a deep black hole somewhere. Right along with the Heroic Seal Team 6.
Figures, hmmm?
ORI
ORI,
TPTB used up two of their precious margin increases in the gold markets, and gold laughed in their faces.
From their perspective, that was the end of their world.
"Everything is up"
No it's not, it is a game, not a market, a simple distraction to keep everyone out of the gold market where they are conducting massive operations to buy cheap gold.
Fitch got their paycheck.
S&P re-upgrade? MY, but the Emperor's clothes are so beautiul! So chic!
Pump and Dump, bitchez.
Tyler, very nice research doc produced today by Albert Edward from SG on Income Distributions in US and UK.
So Bernanke wants to take 'all is well' into Jackson Hole? Suddenly the topic of QE hasnt been mentioned at all in days, crickets chirping. Seems like 'TSHTF' moment may be when Bernanke announces no QE in a few days. No market drops, all is well news, but how many times has QE3 been baked into stock prices since January? Somethings really not right here, none of these puzzle pieces fit.
The US may be AAA but stable? seriously?
Mind you the french were responsible for the Maginot Line and the horror that was Operation Market Garden. In otherwords, the french are brilliant tacticians.
Coq au vin, will go down as their greatest contribution to the world.
The Titanic has been 'stable' sitting on the bottom of the Atlantic for many decades.
ironically their greatest contribution will be their mathematicians...
Market Garden was a British/American/Polish operation in the Netherlands and Germany, although you're right that it was a total charlie foxtrot.
"Unlike S&P which looks at such obsolete things as fundamentals and realistic projections..."
Umm, if this were a factual statement wouldn't the US be a BBB- like Brazil?
Really, 70% of GDP? Then why the F*8k are we paying interest on the other 30% of outstanding national debt? (y'know, the Intragovernmental crap). If we don't have to pay interest on that other 30% we could save hundreds of billions of dollars in interest payments!
I really hate it when they manipulate the figures to "prove" their point, while ignoring the parts that don't fit the theory. Creationist clap-trap is all it is.
I thought France's debt over GDP was 84.5% not 75%.
From the French statistics agency (in english) : http://www.insee.fr/en/themes/info-rapide.asp?id=40
So yeah cleary we don't deserve the AAA.
By the way I'm a bit tired of reading about the Ligne Maginot or the French resistance every time there's a news about France. Or else you should also talk about Vietnam or Irak with every US related news.
So you'd rather discuss Dien Bien Phu? Or Saddam and Chirac in the 70s?
And Rumsfeld. And Pearl. And a whole bunch of Sauds who said to Sad-dam..go get em those shiite iranians. saddam was a CIa hit man during the previous Iraki regime of Qasim in 1958.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein
I think the logic went "if he's not our psychotic puppet tyrant, he's Russia's psychotic puppet tyrant"; such is the depth of thought with the "best and the brightest".
LOL, that's all we know here. Nobody reads, and all they talk about is American Idol on the television. For all you know, I've got my feet up on the coffee table, applauding all the wars we started, munching on some freedom fries and swilling cheap wine from a twist top bottle.
Hey, it wasn't my decision to invade the Rhineland and starve the Germans. Those peas are going to take another century or so to swallow.
I can see the SEC agent, hand on his weapon, saying 'We're triple-A, aren't we?'
Watching porn is one thing. Having conversations with your penis is quite another.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxQtmn_f7Og
Fitch now proceeds to shove credibility in the shitcan:
"The overall level of general government debt, which includes debt incurred by states and local governments, is estimated by Fitch to reach 94% of GDP this year, the highest amongst 'AAA' sovereigns"
Ya think? This is fucking catastrophic.
"Fitch's analysis of the Budget Control Act (BCA 2011) passed into law on August 2 implies USD4.1trn of deficit reduction over the ten years to 2021 relative to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) 'alternative fiscal scenario'"
If they beleive this, then they are truly clueless.
"Social Security, Medicaid and unemployment insurance programs would be exempt from 'sequestration' and revenue measures are not part of this 'enforcement mechanism'."
There's a big fucking problem RIGHT THERE.
"Fitch currently projects federal debt held by the public and gross general government debt stabilising in the latter half of the decade at 85% and 105% of GDP, respectively, higher than for any other currently 'AAA'-rated sovereign."
Nooooooooooooo shit.
What the fuck are they smoking?
Fitch can't give the only positive assessment there can be in this train wreck:
Long before the USD reaches zero, and you can pay off your mortgage with the price of a cup of coffee, TPTB will pull the plug on the patient and put the world on a "gold standard" (another pig, but with gold colored lipstick. You won't see a true gold standard.), ramping the price of gold and making all the banksters instantly solvent.
You are not getting out of your mortgage, these guys are not stepping down from power, and life is not fair.
B(F)itch = bunch of suck ups
Maybe we can get a pic of them doing the hot dog routine?
translation: still plenty of room to tax them some more
Smoking French cigarettes ?
We all know now (after S&P downgrade) that when and IF the Fitch ever downgrades the USA...the next step is to downgrade FRANCE !
Since Fitch is deep in the pocket of Europe...how can Fitch ever be rational going forward ?
Their French masters would whip them down to being a back-alley tea leaf reader...the French government would remove Fitch.
S&P looks at obsolete things like fundamentals and realistic projections? Hahahaha.....is this the comedy hour? S&P capabilities would be stretched examining the dirt under their fingernails.
This smells kinda funny....
Eurobonds, ECB, the Fed, US Treasuries...with Fitch in the middle... My instinct tells me that there's more to this than meets the eye...