S&P cuts Russia’s rating to junk, Moody’s issues junk warning

Signage is seen outdoors the Moody’s Company headquarters in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Feb 25 (Reuters) – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a flurry of credit standing strikes on Friday, with S&P decreasing Russia’s ranking to ‘junk’ standing, Moody’s placing it on assessment for a downgrade to junk, and S&P and Fitch swiftly chopping Ukraine on default worries.

Each nations’ monetary markets have unsurprisingly been thrown into turmoil by this week’s occasions, which rank as the largest army assault in Europe since World Struggle Two, bringing stiff Western sanctions on Moscow. learn extra

S&P lowered Russia’s long-term overseas foreign money credit standing to ‘BB+’ from ‘BBB-‘, and warned it might decrease rankings additional, after getting extra readability on the macroeconomic repercussions of the sanctions.

“In our view, the sanctions introduced thus far might carry vital unfavorable implications for the Russian banking sector’s capability to behave as a monetary middleman for worldwide commerce, S&P mentioned.

It additionally lower Ukraine’s ranking to ‘B-‘ from ‘B’.

Russia now has an “funding grade” ranking of Baa3 from Moody’s and an equal BBB- from Fitch, because of one of many lowest debt ranges on the earth at simply 20% of GDP, and almost $650 billion of foreign money reserves.

A downgrade, nonetheless, would decrease that ranking to the riskier “junk” or sub-investment grade class.

“The choice to position the rankings on assessment for downgrade displays the unfavorable credit score implications for Russia’s credit score profile from the extra and extra extreme sanctions being imposed,” Moody’s mentioned in a press release.

Sovereign ranking evaluations can take months however this time are prone to be faster.

Moody’s mentioned its determination would issue within the scale of the battle and the severity of further Western sanctions, which have already hit a few of Russia’s prime banks, army exports and members of President Vladimir Putin’s interior circle. learn extra

It added it will additionally weigh the diploma to which Russia’s substantial foreign money reserves are in a position to mitigate the disruption stemming from the brand new sanctions and prolonged battle.

“Moody’s will look to conclude the assessment when these credit score implications develop into extra clear, significantly when the influence of additional sanctions takes form within the coming days or perhaps weeks,” it mentioned.

Moody’s additionally put Ukraine’s already-junk “B3” ranking on assessment for a downgrade.

Fitch didn’t wait, nonetheless, and moved instantly to slash its Ukraine ranking by a complete three notches to “CCC” from “B”.

It defined, “There’s a excessive probability of an prolonged interval of political instability, with regime change a probable goal of President Putin, creating heightened coverage uncertainty and probably additionally undermining the willingness of Ukraine to repay debt.”

Moody’s had additionally warned a heavy battle might depart Kyiv struggling to make debt funds.

Scope, a smaller European ranking company, has estimated Ukrainian authorities debt might leap above 90% of GDP by 2024 from about 50% now whereas S&P World additionally warned on Friday of a spate of downgrades because of the struggle. learn extra .

The Worldwide Financial Fund is exploring all choices to assist Ukraine with additional monetary assist, mentioned its head, Kristalina Georgieva. learn extra

Russia’s central financial institution has beefed up its banking sector with billions in further overseas change and rouble liquidity, whereas the federal government has individually pledged full-scale assist to sanctions-hit firms.

It isn’t the primary time Russia is being lower to junk. Moody’s and S&P each took related steps in early 2015 after the annexation of Crimea and plunging oil costs triggered a rouble foreign money disaster.

There are “severe considerations” round Russia’s capability to handle the disruptive influence of recent sanctions on its financial system, public funds and monetary system, Moody’s mentioned on Friday.

Reporting by Marc Jones in London, Mehr Bedi and Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru; Modifying by Sam Holmes and Clarence Fernandez

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