Here Comes The S&P Downgrade Barrage - Full Statement, In Which S&P Says France May Get Two Notch Downgrade
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today placed its long-term sovereign ratings on 15 members of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU or eurozone) on CreditWatch with negative implications.
We have also maintained the CreditWatch negative status of our long-term rating on Cyprus and placed its short-term ratings on CreditWatch with negative implications. The ratings on Greece have not been placed on CreditWatch. The ratings on the eurozone sovereigns are listed below.
Today's CreditWatch placements are prompted by our belief that systemic stresses in the eurozone have risen in recent weeks to the extent that they now put downward pressure on the credit standing of the eurozone as a whole.
We believe that these systemic stresses stem from five interrelated factors:
- Tightening credit conditions across the eurozone;
- Markedly higher risk premiums on a growing number of eurozone sovereigns, including some that are currently rated 'AAA';
- Continuing disagreements among European policy makers on how to tackle the immediate market confidence crisis and, longer term, how to ensure greater
- economic, financial, and fiscal convergence among eurozone members;(4) High levels of government and household indebtedness across a large area of the eurozone; and
- The rising risk of economic recession in the eurozone as a whole in 2012. Currently, we expect output to decline next year in countries such as Spain, Portugal and Greece, but we now assign a 40% probability of a fall in output for the eurozone as a whole.
Our CreditWatch review of eurozone sovereign ratings will focus on three of the five key factors that form the core of our sovereign ratings methodology:
the "political," "external," and "monetary" scores we assign to the governments in the eurozone (see "Sovereign Government Rating Methodology And Assumptions", published June 30, 2011). Our analysis of "political dynamics" will focus on both country-specific and eurozone-wide issues that appear to us to be limiting the effectiveness of efforts to resolve the market confidence crisis. Our analysis of "external liquidity" will focus on the borrowing requirements of both eurozone governments and banks. Our analysis of "monetary flexibility" will focus on ECB policy settings to address the economic and financial stresses the countries in the eurozone are increasingly facing.
We expect to conclude our review of eurozone sovereign ratings as soon as possible following the EU summit scheduled for Dec. 8 and 9, 2011. Depending on the score changes, if any, that our rating committees agree are appropriate for each sovereign, we believe that ratings could be lowered by up to one notch for Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, and by up to two notches for the other governments. [THIS MEANS FRANCE]
Our ratings on Greece (Hellenic Republic; CC/Negative/C) are not affected by today's actions, as a 'CC' rating under our rating definitions connotes our belief that there is a relatively high near-term probability of default.
We are publishing separate media releases with the rationale for each rating action on the 16 CreditWatch actions. We are also publishing the following article: "Credit FAQ: Factors Behind Our Placement of Eurozone Governments on CreditWatch".
Following today's CreditWatch listings, Standard & Poor's will issue separate media releases concerning affected ratings on the funds, government-related entities, financial institutions, insurance companies, public finance, and structured finance sectors in due course.
RATINGS LIST To From
Long-term ratings on CreditWatch negative
Austria (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating AAA/Watch Neg/A-1+ AAA/Stable/A-1+
Belgium (Kingdom of) Sovereign Credit Rating AA/Watch Neg/A-1+ AA/Negative/A-1+
Finland (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating AAA/Watch Neg/A-1+ AAA/Stable/A-1+
France (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating AAA/Watch Neg/A-1+ AAA/Stable/A-1+
Germany (Federal Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating AAA/Watch Neg/A-1+ AAA/Stable/A-1+
Luxembourg (Grand Duchy of) Sovereign Credit Rating AAA/Watch Neg/A-1+ AAA/Stable/A-1+
Netherlands (The) (State of) Sovereign Credit Rating AAA/Watch Neg/A-1+ AAA/Stable/A-1+
Long- and short-term ratings on CreditWatch negative
Estonia (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating AA-/Watch Neg/A-1+ AA-/Stable/A-1+
Ireland (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating BBB+/Watch Neg/A-2 BBB+/Stable/A-2
Italy (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating A/Watch Neg/A-1 A/Negative/A-1
Malta (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating A/Watch Neg/A-1 A/Stable/A-1
Portugal (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating BBB-/Watch Neg/A-3 BBB-/Negative/A-3
Slovak Republic Sovereign Credit Rating A+/Watch Neg/A-1 A+/Positive/A-1
Slovenia (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating AA-/Watch Neg/A-1+ AA-/Stable/A-1+
Spain (Kingdom of) Sovereign Credit Rating AA-/Watch Neg/A-1+ AA-/Negative/A-1+
Short-term ratings on CreditWatch negative, long-term ratings still on
CreditWatch negative
Cyprus (Republic of) Sovereign Credit Rating BBB/Watch Neg/A-3 BBB/Watch Neg/A-3
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Luxembourg? Lolburg.
Chicks from europe are the hottest - http://hedge.ly/gFWVSm
USA is the land of wideload chicks.
yep. babe of the day.
unquestionably nailable and her hair remains perfectly coiffed even under water.
She possesses built-in flotation devices, too. Wow.
almost enough to make even bawney frank go hetero.
Well, that must have scuppered a few plans! The EFSF AAA (CDO-like) rating makes it look like a zombie, even before it could be "expanded"!
deleted
if you downgrade the place with the highest per capita GDP in the world... what are you supposed to do with all the rest????
Nothing, because its not founded in reality anyway.
Just propaganda Bullshit to misdirect from the fact that the US and UK are bad ass broke.
But dont worry they'll go down the drain soon, not the euro, and their phony minion rating agencies with them.
Really all rating agencies are american, do you honestly believe they will realistically downgrade US ratings ? Dream on.
Small test: You get to make a list of people who get money. First place gets 1000$, Second 500$, Third 250$ etc.
How likely is it that your own Name is on place One ? Exactly.
The ratings agencies are now the cattle prod of choice for TPTB to use against countries and pols that will not immediately effect the desired changes or institute the desired policies. Typical carrot and stick psychology. All this in an effort to create one centralized EU government.
Earth has been just downgraded by the Stellar and Planetary Ratings (S&P), a MRSO (Milky way Recognized Statical Organization) to triple Zed minus outlook negative. Saturn has outlook positive as the new methodoligy consideres that lack of life is better than lack of intelligent life.
You're probably on the right track. The ratings agencies definitely have a less than pure motive for this. Who stands to gain if S&P drops the ratings? What would likely be the reaction and who benefits? If you can figure that out, you can make the right play. I'm just not sure I can accurately anticipate the reaction and how to position myself.
Already baked in. No big deal. S&P does not matter. Euro/USD to $1.40 in a couple of weeks. Enjoy the holidays with your family. Everything is set up for 2012 to be a HUGE years for the markets. May even set new highs. Trade accordingly.
Rahm? Is that you? Sheeeeeeit ...I almost didn't recognize you without you dropping the F-bomb.
Don't let me distract you from distracting - be cool.
DA
Is it mandatory for trolls to have the red-white-and-blue, Robo-Hamy?
Any one who post the truth on this site is called a 'troll', the market has almost doubled in 3 yrs. All this time you chicken little fools have been posting 'the sky is falling'. You must almost be broke now, shorting this market is a suckers move--but hey, maybe you dumb asses like that. Peace on earth, Dow to 15,000 in 2012.
If the Dow goes to 15,000 in 2012 it will be about 500 points higher than when stupid fucks like you went all in back in 2007.
1000, I suggest you take a look at this interview with Mr. Bass. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/kyle-bass-explains-new-world-order
Enjoy if you havn't yet viewed the clip.
Your rising Dow came at the expense of debasing the US dollar 1/3 since '08. You stock bulls never talk about that.
"Any one who post the truth on this site is called a 'troll', the market has almost doubled in 3 yrs."
Troll ... no.
Truth .... usually takes more than a snippy soundbite ... and on ZH your credibility takes time to be established. Spouting "green shoots" propaganda regarding markets, economies and sovereign states is a guaranteed method to demonstrate your ignorance beyond all doubt.
Besides, you'll be much happier getting back to WoW than you will be hanging around here.
barliman
P.S. Tyler, much as I hate to say it - can we bring captchas back to weed out the illiterate?
They should be hung by their nostrils! lol
That was what ? a Half-life of 4 Hours for the Eurocrats ?
S&P: We may cut you!
Belgium should already be cut.
Belgium gets a minor boost for not having a gubmint. The US would be back to AAA if we disband our criminal gubmint.
Whats up with the cancelled Czechs?
In fact, in Belgium we do now have a government, after 541 days. Our good King of the Belgians, Albert II, has just appointed it after the successful coalition negotiations were completed.
Our new Prime Minister, Elio di Rupo, is quite a good chap. He is of Italian heritage, a gay man, and the leader of the French-speaking Socialist Party in Belgium. He is charming and looks quite dapper in the bow tie he usually wears, but perhaps some Americans will not quite like his profile.
Americans are probably not quite ready for a gay socialist as head of government, but Mr di Rupo is quite all right with us here in Belgium.
Words and meanings: Americans use 'socialism' to mean something like 'fascism', which they greatly suffer, whereas here we use 'liberal' as someone who has strong free-market views.
Too bad Americans have never really experienced government working well, and giving just about every citizen a good life, like we have here. And Americans get sadly distracted from their real enemies, by anti-gay, anti-Muslim, anti-Mexican, and other bigotries.
Never fear, Barney Frank's here.
Who cares ?
Whats the name of the mayor of Washington D.C. ?
Belgium is a neutral ground where the government of the EU is located so that no nation (of importance) can claim to rule europe.
Test it youself:
"Belgium is the ruler of Europe!"
Sounds funny doesn't it ?
As a matter of fact, Belgium was founded in the 19th century as a neutral ground / battlefield for Europes great powers so they don't have to scorche their own land in minor conflicts and have a nice background for parleys.
Belgium is a case example of the fallacy and failure of the concept of multi -culturalism.
Belgium has largely devolved into two separate nations under one flag,
In the north The Dutch-speaking Flemish Community people of the Flanders region
French-speaking people of the Walloon region in the south.
The two different ethnic groups have been feuding and that’s why it took a full 1 year and ½ to form a government. Even the road signs are written in different language depending on the region.
Most likely the entity known as “Belgium” will fall apart once they are forced to institute austerity and have to fight over which region takes the biggest hit.
Whats up with the cancelled Czechs?
They have never been part of the eurozone, their currency is CZK.
DEXIA
KBC
AEGON
BANKRUPTED
Just ANTWERP has any potential value as a big harbor....
BELGIUM will be splitted into 3 countries....like Yugoslavia...and in a couple years Spain...NEOBALKANIZATION COMING (in belgium and spain...and who knows in more euro countries...as FISCAL HARMONIZATION IS AN ODYSSEY...UTOPIA
Please keep your hands an arms inside the boat at all times, and enjoy your ride on The Downward Spiral (tm)!
Weeeee~~~!!!!
the final thrill ride for all turds.
So in other words theyre trying to scare the ECB into printing?
Of course. Austerity... was tried. Fail. See Greece.
Nothin' left...
Perhaps they are just trying to give that apperance, Sheep. Perhaps this is all part of the script to give cover to Fed to print. Who knows any more...it is all so FUBAR.
I dont know who they have to hide from or fool in order to print....who is there to stop them?
Good point...I breifly thought Congress but they are impotent.
is that ebonics for important or did you mean utterly useless?
It's about placing the blame - redirection. Politicians take the next hit. Then people will take the ultimate and final hit. That should work wonders for divide and conquer as well. In this case, divide and liquidate. Public versus private, haves versus have not, political party A against political party B, young versus old, cat owners against dog owners, prego versus ragu, etc.
That is my question. What is considered negative?
If they (Euroland) all agree to print a Trillion Euros in funny money and push defaults out 2 years is that good?
If they say no to printing, no more new debt but there are a lot of bond write offs is that good because they would finally be improving the situation (after the write-offs, theoretically)
who cut the cheese ?
I think it was Nigel Farage. Well, first smelt first delt?
No Cheese for bad mouse...
AND WHEN UK WILL BE DOWNGRADED???????????????????????????????'
This would be that expensive swiss cheese right? Not that fake ass french cheese..
tomorrow!
Who gave S&P their scissors and balls back?
Why not save time and just state that "All the European countries who have been recently decribed as fucked will be cut."
Cuts to already poor pensioners....all time record bonuses for the worthless world bankster pirates.
See? FIXED!
"We see no realistic chance of Hurricane Katrina coming anywhere near the New Orleans Metropolitan Area"--Ben Bernanke Head of National Hurricane Center August, 2005
If they cut Estonia the whole thing collapses. France and Germany are one thing. But if Estonia goes...
I've always said "Estonia is the fulcrum..."
Why?
I don't have the time nor the inclination to explain why Estonia is the fulcrum but he is right, it is. I will be up all night dreading Asia's reaction to this news about Estonia. I fear for the safety of Estonian's abroad. May people treat them like human beings and not blame them for Estonia's role in this crisis.
Epic sax guy is from Estonia. They know how to party!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHy7DGLTt8g
It's the towels - they're from Estonia.
You trying to outwit yourself?
In a showing of respect for Estonian's the world over I will now recite their national anthem...."Estonia, Estonia...we like stones and the letter E! We put these two things together... and forever it shall be!!"
Nice beat and you can dance to it. I give it a 50.
If Estonia is the fulcrum then Lithuania must be fulsome and Latvia crumsome. Now we can make German borsch.
These S&P shills must know how to make fukked up duck soup that even the Marx Brothers would love to eat.
So we should probably expect some kind of global coordinated effort to save mankind tomorrow morning.
Agreed.
I mean, it's been a whole six days since the last one, so we're about due.
Surely a global counterfeiting effort...
Not save mankind, save banks. It's all about saving banks (and bonuses) now. Has been since '08.
As we remain deep in the rabbit hole, I suspect S&P also issued a STRONG BUY rating on every country they said they may CUT.
Vatican City : Downgraded to Junk - Banca Ambrosiana II Part.
Andorra: COLLAPSED
Lietschestein: OFFSHORE PARADISE
MALTA: THE INCREDIBLE OFFSHORE KINGDOM
CATALONIA: C-
COMUNITAT VALENCIANA Hyper C
TRANSNITRIA JUNK
MOLDOVA C^2
------------------------------------------------
PLEASE KILL THE RATING AGENCIES NOW....WHAT A BUNCH OF TERRORISTS
No, please let them continue to sink those separatists assholes in to the ground. Everything that makes the neonazionals of the different Spanish regions turn to Madrid is good.
Que no son españoles, son hijos de puta!
The problem of spain are the corruption and the ultraleverage of all Comunidades Autonomas.
Madrid,
Valencia
Barcelona
Andalucia
Are all in default
-
In few years Spain will be a new balkans but in Iberia....hope not a war involved....but for disgrace,,,this country will not continue as a unity...." TOO MANY CONFLICT of INTERESTS"
Catalonia wants the independence
Vasque Country too...
---------
I agree with them, its better to break down the Unity and stablish new system-government.... the current doestn works...SPECIALLY COS CORRUPTION.
---
So Tough times coming inside Spain for 2-3 years... Difficult task for new government, i think honestly they cannot sustain this country cos revolts,riots and strikes will collapse any kind of" recovery". Spain is collapsed
I sent this Spanish sentence via SMS to 1-408-357-4840 and got the following English translation back in seconds on my phone:
Who are not Spanish are bastards!
Literal translation: "They are not Spaniards, they are sons of whores"
I'd gladly get downgraded if it meant a few hours with that avatar of yours...
Is she trying to get a cookie?
I think she lost her car keys.
better translation is "they are not spaniards, they are english"
spainish nickname for the english is sons of the great whore. dont know why but it seems every nation has a nasty nickname for us apart from norway
Italy "republic", LOL
California Republic.
Don't laugh, it's part of the Good Olde U S of A.
In other words going on previous timeliness of CRA's those gummints have exploDEADed already
Meanwhile back at the ranch
Rosanne Barr is learning the words to Italian national athem
and Uncle Ben is figuring out which helicopter to travel the world in
I think he needs to do a Matrix version of himself..... to end up the same way!
"Continuing disagreements among European policy makers on how to tackle the immediate market confidence crisis and, longer term, how to ensure greater economic, financial, and fiscal convergence among eurozone members"
Oh, I´m so fucking sorry, I didn´t realize the Fourth Reich was a neccessity to avoid a downgrade. We´ll fix that right quick in a hurry for you. Heil Merkel! Hey, that has a nice ring to it....
FIscal Convergence is an utopia.
European Countries has lost the game.
GAME OVER
Now we have to pay for the mistakes we have made.
END
Nah! It's "stable" so...rally on folks! DeMark just gave the TA bazooka, 1330-1340 by Dec 21st, right in time for Santa, eh?!
Anyone with an Debt/Equity ratio over 65% is to be deemed a systemic risk in which all equity must be wiped out and any debt become what ever equity is left.....
Italy, Spain still have A ratings. What a joke!
... until they're not.
Yea whats really the point? Ratings seem to mean a hill of damn beans....everyone 'downgraded' but nothing is really effected by it.