Fitch placed six eurozone countries on downgrade watch on Friday, in a damning judgment of the crisis which saw the ratings agency declare that a comprehensive solution to the eurozone crisis is "beyond reach". Here is its statement in full.
Fitch said it expected to complete its review by the end of January 2012. Photo: Alamy
- Belgium 'AA+'/'RWN from 'AA+'/Negative Outlook ('F1+' Unaffected)
- Spain 'AA-'/'F1+'/RWN from 'AA-'/'F1+'/Negative Outlook
- Slovenia 'AA-'/'F1+'/RWN from 'AA-'/'F1+'/Negative Outlook
- Italy 'A+'/'F1'/RWN from 'A+'/'F1'/Negative Outlook
- Ireland 'BBB+'/'F2'/RWN from 'BBB+'/'F2'/Negative Outlook
- Cyprus 'BBB'/'F3'/RWN from 'BBB'/'F3'/Negative Outlook
The RWN indicates that the above ratings are under active review and are subject to a heightened probability of downgrade in the near-term. Fitch expects to complete the review by the end of January 2012. If the review concludes that a downgrade is warranted, it is likely be limited to one or two notches.
Following the EU Summit on 9-10 December, Fitch has concluded that a 'comprehensive solution' to the eurozone crisis is technically and politically beyond reach.
Despite positive commitments by EU leaders at the Summit, notably the decision to accelerate the creation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and to place less emphasis on private sector involvement (PSI), the concerns held by Fitch prior to the Summit remain pressing and have not been materially eased by the Summit outcome (also see, 'Summit Does Little To Ease Pressure on eurozone Sovereign Debt,' 12 December).
Of particular concern is the absence of a credible financial backstop. In Fitch's opinion this requires more active and explicit commitment from the ECB to mitigate the risk of self-fulfilling liquidity crises for potentially illiquid but solvent Euro Area Member States (EAMS).
Fitch recognises that the policy authorities in all of the countries with sovereign ratings subject to review have embarked upon significant fiscal consolidation and structural reform and these efforts will be taken into account in the review.
However, the systemic nature of the eurozone crisis is having a profoundly adverse effect on economic and financial stability across the region and for some EAMS poses near-term risks that are beginning to dominate the sovereign-specific risk fundamentals.
Today's announcement is focused on those sovereigns that are potentially vulnerable to the worsening external economic and financial environment as indicated by previous negative rating actions and rating Outlooks.
The RWN is prompted by the following risk factors:
- In the absence of greater clarity on the ultimate structure of a fundamentally reformed Economic and Monetary Union and the recognition by political leaders of the potential for an EAMS to leave the eurozone, Fitch will review its assessment of the balance of risks associated with eurozone membership, especially for sovereigns potentially subject to funding stresses.
- While acknowledging the extraordinary measures the ECB has adopted to provide liquidity to the European banking sector, its continued reluctance to countenance a similar degree of support to its sovereign shareholders undermines the efforts by EAMS to put in place a credible financial 'firewall' against contagion and self-fulfilling liquidity and even solvency crises.
- The intensification of the eurozone crisis since July constitutes a significant negative shock to the region's economy and the stability of its financial sector with potentially adverse consequences for sovereign credit profiles across the region, most immediately for those placed on RWN today.
- In the absence of a 'comprehensive solution', the crisis will persist and likely be punctuated by episodes of severe financial market volatility that is a particular source of risk to the sovereign governments of those countries with levels of public debt, contingent liabilities and fiscal and financial sector financing needs that are high relative to rating peers.
In light of these heightened risks, Fitch will re-consider the assumptions and analysis that underpin its current sovereign ratings of Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Cyprus to ensure that the above risk factors are appropriately reflected in its sovereign ratings in accordance with its sovereign rating methodology.
The focus on investment grade rated sovereign governments with Negative Outlooks reflects previous research and analysis that indicates specific weaknesses that render them especially vulnerable to the intensification of the eurozone crisis. However, the outcome of the review will also incorporate Fitch's current assessment of the strength of their underlying economic and credit fundamentals as reflected in their current sovereign ratings as well as recent policy measures adopted at the national level.
- Cyprus 'BBB'/'F3'/RWN from 'BBB'/'F3'/Negative Outlook
The RWN indicates that the above ratings are under active review and are subject to a heightened probability of downgrade in the near-term. Fitch expects to complete the review by the end of January 2012. If the review concludes that a downgrade is warranted, it is likely be limited to one or two notches.
Following the EU Summit on 9-10 December, Fitch has concluded that a 'comprehensive solution' to the eurozone crisis is technically and politically beyond reach.
Despite positive commitments by EU leaders at the Summit, notably the decision to accelerate the creation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) and to place less emphasis on private sector involvement (PSI), the concerns held by Fitch prior to the Summit remain pressing and have not been materially eased by the Summit outcome (also see, 'Summit Does Little To Ease Pressure on eurozone Sovereign Debt,' 12 December).
Of particular concern is the absence of a credible financial backstop. In Fitch's opinion this requires more active and explicit commitment from the ECB to mitigate the risk of self-fulfilling liquidity crises for potentially illiquid but solvent Euro Area Member States (EAMS).
Fitch recognises that the policy authorities in all of the countries with sovereign ratings subject to review have embarked upon significant fiscal consolidation and structural reform and these efforts will be taken into account in the review.
However, the systemic nature of the eurozone crisis is having a profoundly adverse effect on economic and financial stability across the region and for some EAMS poses near-term risks that are beginning to dominate the sovereign-specific risk fundamentals.
Today's announcement is focused on those sovereigns that are potentially vulnerable to the worsening external economic and financial environment as indicated by previous negative rating actions and rating Outlooks.
The RWN is prompted by the following risk factors:
- In the absence of greater clarity on the ultimate structure of a fundamentally reformed Economic and Monetary Union and the recognition by political leaders of the potential for an EAMS to leave the eurozone, Fitch will review its assessment of the balance of risks associated with eurozone membership, especially for sovereigns potentially subject to funding stresses.
- While acknowledging the extraordinary measures the ECB has adopted to provide liquidity to the European banking sector, its continued reluctance to countenance a similar degree of support to its sovereign shareholders undermines the efforts by EAMS to put in place a credible financial 'firewall' against contagion and self-fulfilling liquidity and even solvency crises.
- The intensification of the eurozone crisis since July constitutes a significant negative shock to the region's economy and the stability of its financial sector with potentially adverse consequences for sovereign credit profiles across the region, most immediately for those placed on RWN today.
- In the absence of a 'comprehensive solution', the crisis will persist and likely be punctuated by episodes of severe financial market volatility that is a particular source of risk to the sovereign governments of those countries with levels of public debt, contingent liabilities and fiscal and financial sector financing needs that are high relative to rating peers.
In light of these heightened risks, Fitch will re-consider the assumptions and analysis that underpin its current sovereign ratings of Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Cyprus to ensure that the above risk factors are appropriately reflected in its sovereign ratings in accordance with its sovereign rating methodology.
The focus on investment grade rated sovereign governments with Negative Outlooks reflects previous research and analysis that indicates specific weaknesses that render them especially vulnerable to the intensification of the eurozone crisis. However, the outcome of the review will also incorporate Fitch's current assessment of the strength of their underlying economic and credit fundamentals as reflected in their current sovereign ratings as well as recent policy measures adopted at the national level.
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