While central bankers of the euro zone must meet this weekend to try to establish the foundation that will emerge from the crisis, Standard & Poor's already considering the worst. The rating agency has in fact simulated for several European countries, a "worst case scenario" based on a relapse into recession. If such an economic downturn were to occur, what the IMF is already considering, then the rating agency's estimation, several notes of sovereign debt could then be degraded, including that of France. She stresses, however, that "no degradation or put under surveillance of AAA French is considered for the moment."
Accuracy that allows Standard & Poor's to stand out from its counterpart Moody's, which launched a few days ago warning of a possible future revision of his opinion of the French debt.Fitch has also distanced itself from Moody's, ensuring that it does not intend to degrade the rating of France.
Without growth, no AAA rating for France
S & P has built these "stress tests" on sovereign debt from two batteries of different assumptions. In the first scenario, it assessed the impact of a relapse into recession. In this case, France could see its rating downgraded from AAA to AA +, because of lower tax revenues.
In the second scenario, which provides a relapse into recession coupled with a shock on interest rates, then the note of the French sovereign debt could be lowered by two notches.The notes of banking groups could also be revised.
"The soaring deficits and the recapitalization of banks will weigh heavily on the indebtedness of countries in the euro area," said the head of credit analysis in Paris, adding that "the credit quality of the countries in the euro area will thus be deeply damaged. " The rating agency also said it will adjust its ratings depending on the extent of the downturn on the Old Continent.
For now, the assumption of a recession in the countries of the euro area is not the scenario preferred by S & P, which focuses on growth of between 1% and 1.5% on average for 2012. This is not the case of Fitch."The intensification of the crisis in Italy, Spain and other countries in the euro area under pressure, is expected to generate a recession," says David Riley, head of credit ratings of sovereign debt at Fitch.
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