Credit rating agencies

The benefits of a debt upgrade

It is widely expected that Greek debt will finally return to investment grade for the first time since 2010. Some minor credit rating agencies have already gone ahead with the upgrade, though none of the "big four" - DBRS, Fitch, Moody's and Standard & Poor's - have done so yet.

Investment grade bestowed

The decision late on Friday by German credit rating agency Scope Ratings to upgrade Greek debt to BBB-, that is, investment grade, comes on the heels of a similar decision by Japanese firm R&I and provides hopes that the "big four" ratings firms recognized by the European Central Bank - Fitch, Moody's, Standard & Poor's and DBRS - will move in the same direction, bestowing an investment

First investment grade decision

Japan gave an important vote of confidence to Athens, as its rating agency Rating and Investment Information (R&I) is now the first to attribute Greece investment grade, after the upgrade to BBB- with stable prospects (from BB+ with stable prospects previously) on Monday.

Investment grade in the final stretch

The government's policy declarations a few days ago were in line with the expectations of rating agencies and are not seen as endangering the country's fiscal course and the prudent fiscal policy - with a focus on growth, investment and debt reduction - that is also the ticket to investment grade, analysts from Fitch, Moody's, S&P and DBRS have told Kathimerini.

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