Advertisement

S&P downgrades Spain's debt to 'negative' on pandemic hit

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
S&P downgrades Spain's debt to 'negative' on pandemic hit
People walk past closed shops in the neighbourhood of Vallecas in Madrid on September 17. Gabriel Bouys/AFP

A leading rating agency on Friday cut the outlook on Spain's debt to negative from stable and warned that the pandemic-hit economy will struggle to return to growth.

Advertisement

Spain's sovereign debt grade was affirmed at "A" but S&P Global said the caution on the outlook was driven by concerns the government will not pass a budget for the third straight year "and economic weakness could persist into 2021 and
2022."
   
"The pandemic has stopped growth in its tracks. We now estimate that for 2020, the economy will contract by 11.3 percent," the ratings agency said in a statement.
 

Advertisement

   
"We believe that the resulting economic pressures on Spain may have increased prospects of a political agreement this autumn for a 2021 budget, while building consensus behind the pro-growth reforms detailed in Spain's
National Reform Program."
   
The agency credited the stimulus measures with preventing an even deeper recession in the Spanish economy, but noted lingering risks, including the high government debt level.
   
However, Moody's was more upbeat on Friday, maintaining the debt outlook at stable in addition to holding the credit rating steady at Baa1.
   
The agency noted that "government support measures combined with past progress in restoring competitiveness and reducing macro imbalances should provide for a robust economic recovery next year."
   
The low interest rate environment will also soften the impact of the elevated government debt, Moody's said.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also