One-by-one, the highest quality collateral in the world (according to ratings that is) is disappearing. To wit, Fitch warns that a downgrade of the UK's AAA rating is increasingly likely: "weaker than expected growth and fiscal outturns in 2012 have increased pressure on the UK's 'AAA' rating, which has been on Negative Outlook since March 2012." The Negative Outlook on the UK rating reflects the very limited fiscal space, at the 'AAA' level, to absorb further adverse economic shocks in light of the UK's elevated debt levels and uncertain growth outlook. Global economic headwinds, including those emanating from the on-going eurozone crisis, have compounded the drag on UK growth from private sector deleveraging and fiscal consolidation as well as from depressed business and consumer confidence, weak investment, and constrained credit growth. But no mention of unlimited QE?
Via Fitch: -London-28 September 2012: Fitch Ratings has affirmed the United Kingdom's (UK) sovereign ratings as follows:
--Long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) affirmed at 'AAA'
--Long-term local currency IDR affirmed at 'AAA'
--Country Ceiling affirmed at 'AAA'
--Short-term foreign currency rating affirmed at 'F1+'
The Outlooks on the Long-term IDRs have been maintained at Negative.
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However, weaker than expected growth and fiscal outturns in 2012 have increased pressure on the UK's 'AAA' rating, which has been on Negative Outlook since March 2012. With a structural budget deficit second in size within the 'AAA'category only to the US ('AAA'/Negative), and general government gross debt (GGGD) approaching 100% of GDP in 2015-16 under Fitch's revised baseline estimates - the upper limit of the level consistent with the UK retaining its 'AAA' status - the likelihood of a downgrade has therefore increased.
Global economic headwinds, including those emanating from the on-going eurozone crisis, have compounded the drag on UK growth from private sector deleveraging and fiscal consolidation as well as from depressed business and consumer confidence, weak investment, and constrained credit growth. Fitch now expects the economy to contract by 0.3% in 2012 compared to an expectation of growth of 0.8% when the UK sovereign rating was last formally reviewed in March 2012. The weaker than anticipated economy is reflected in lower corporate tax returns and higher public sector net borrowing, which in the five months to August was GBP59bn compared to GBP48.4bn over the same period in 2011. In light of these developments, Fitch has updated and revised its medium-term fiscal projections for the UK.
Fitch expects only a weak recovery beginning in 2013 and output is not expected to surpass its 2007 pre-crisis peak until 2014. However, the relative resilience of the labour market underscores the continuing uncertainty regarding the medium-term growth potential of the UK economy. Fitch has not revised its previous judgement that the potential annual growth rate of the UK economy is around 2.25% and this assumption is reflected in Fitch's latest economic and fiscal projections published today.
Fitch projects that GGGD and the government's preferred measure - public sector net debt excluding financial interventions (PSND ex) - will peak in 2015-16 at over 97% and 80% of GDP, respectively, before registering a decline in 2016-17. This is one year later than the authorities' supplementary target of having PSND ex decline as a share of GDP in 2015-16, and compares to a previous Fitch projected GGGD peak of about 94% of GDP in March 2012. Fitch's projections assume that the commitment by the Chancellor in last year's Autumn Statement of an additional GBP8bn and GBP15bn of deficit-reduction measures in 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively will be implemented, though they fall outside the term of the current government and have yet to be specified. It is also assumed that the government implements its consolidation programme as laid out in the 2012 Budget. Fitch's projections are consistent with the government continuing to target a cyclically adjusted current balance by the end of the rolling, five-year forecast period.
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The Negative Outlook on the UK rating reflects the very limited fiscal space, at the 'AAA' level, to absorb further adverse economic shocks in light of the UK's elevated debt levels and uncertain growth outlook.
A downgrade of the UK's 'AAA' sovereign rating would likely be triggered by the following:
-- General government gross debt failing to stabilise below 100% of GDP and on a firm downward path towards 90% of GDP over the medium-term.
-- Discretionary fiscal easing that resulted in government debt peaking later and higher than currently forecast.
-- A material downward revision of the assessment of the UK's medium-term growth potential.