Moody’s Downgrades Greece As EU Debates Bailout Scheme

Ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service has slashed its credit rating for Greece by three notches and warned that even further downgrades could be in the works, according to The Wall Street Journal. On Monday, Moody’s announced that it would lower Greece’s rating from B1 to Ba1, and did not lift the negative outlook for the rating. Rival agencies Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings currently hold the country at slightly higher double-B-plus, but share the negative outlook with Moody’s. Moody’s cited the country’s “very large debt” and “significant implementation risks” of what it acknowledged is a “very ambitious” austerity plan.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn, urged leaders to offer flexible support to Ireland and Greece during negotiations this week. Rehn said, I see a danger that we might overburden both countries with overly strict credit conditions,” and urged for the timeline of Greece’s repayment plan to be doubled. The commissioner also pushed for easing the terms of loans on offer to the struggling nations.

Click here to read the story on Moody's downgrade from The Wall Street Journal.

Click here for coverage of bailout debate from The Wall Street Journal.