France and Germany 'facing credit downgrades'

Ratings agency Standard and Poors (S&P) is preparing to downgrade the AAA status of France and Germany, according to reports.

Ratings agency Standard and Poors (S&P) is preparing to downgrade the AAA status of France and Germany, according to reports.

According to the Financial Times, S&P will warn six of the top-rated Eurozone countries that they risk losing their AAA standing in the next 90 days.

It comes ahead of a crucial summit of Eurozone leaders this week to discuss the deepening debt crisis.

The other countries reportedly facing a ratings cut by S&P are the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Luxembourg.

The warning comes after the leaders of Germany and France today called for a new European Union treaty to ensure that the region's debt crisis never happens again.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy said after meeting German chancellor Angela Merkel that they would prefer a treaty agreed by all 27 members of the European Union but would also accept a treaty among just the 17 countries that use the euro.

more courts articles

Football fan given banning order after mocking Munich air disaster Football fan given banning order after mocking Munich air disaster
Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van

More in this section

Tesla cancels its long-promised inexpensive car Tesla cancels its long-promised inexpensive car
Net zero Profits plummet at battery-maker LG Energy amid EV slowdown
Concern honours Ireland’s volunteers Concern honours Ireland’s volunteers
IE logo
Devices


UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE IRISH EXAMINER FOR TEAMS AND ORGANISATIONS
FIND OUT MORE

The Business Hub
Newsletter

News and analysis on business, money and jobs from Munster and beyond by our expert team of business writers.

Sign up
ie logo
Puzzles Logo

Play digital puzzles like crosswords, sudoku and a variety of word games including the popular Word Wheel

Lunchtime News
Newsletter

Keep up with the stories of the day with our lunchtime news wrap.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited