By Nouriel Roubini Recent market volatility – in emerging and developed economies alike – is showing once again how badly ratings agencies and investors can err in assessing countries’ economic and financial vulnerabilities. Ratings agencies wait too long to spot risks and downgrade countries, while investors behave like herds, often ignoring the build-up of risk … Continue reading
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded Brazil’s outlook to negative from stable on Tuesday and warned that it may cut the nation’s credit rating to junk amid their political and economic challenges and an ongoing corruption probe. S&P affirmed Brazil’s credit rating at BBB-minus, the lowest possible investment grade rating, and could downgrade the nation over the next 12 to 18 months. The … Continue reading
Malaysia is planning to cut more government fuel subsidies and move billions of dollars in government employee housing loans off its balance sheets to shore up its fiscal position, in the face of a growing scandal that is threatening Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ability to execute potentially unpopular policies, Bloomberg reported on Monday night. The Malaysian government will … Continue reading
The Central Bank of Russia will no longer use credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, or Moody’s that were assigned after March 1, 2014. All credit ratings given to Russian companies and banks will now be at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Bank, according to a press statement Monday. The … Continue reading
The creation of a joint Russian-Chinese credit rating agency will balance the global outlook and give the world an alternative view on how credit ratings should be done, Chinese international relations expert Victor Gao told RT. “Traditionally credit rating is mostly done by Western credit rating agencies. They sometimes may not fully understand the dynamics … Continue reading