The great debt headache Economics Debt, debt, everywhere but not a drop to… add to any well balanced investment portfolio. The world is awash with government bonds thanks to the debt piled up during the pandemic. But the increase in interest rates alongside the most significant bout of inflation for four decades has left investors in a quandary. What interest [...]
Reeves’ risky borrowing policies prompt fresh tax hike fears Economics Tax hike fears are gathering pace as rising borrowing costs are set to wipe out around half of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ small £9.9bn headroom, a leading economics consultancy has warned. Reeves made around £14bn in spending cuts at her Spring Statement two months ago but left herself with one of the slimmest fiscal buffers on [...]
Moody’s cuts America’s pristine credit rating, citing rising debt Economics Moody’s downgraded the US sovereign credit rating on Friday due to concerns about the nation’s growing $36 trillion debt pile, in a move that could complicate President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut taxes and send ripples through global markets. Moody’s first gave the United States its pristine “Aaa” rating in 1919 and is the last [...]
Reeves’ Budget borrowing plans ‘threaten UK stability’ November 1, 2024 UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget plan to rewrite fiscal rules and borrow more could jeopardise the stability of the country’s public finances, warned ratings agency Moody’s on Friday. In its first assessment of the Labour government’s Budget, Moody’s said that Reeves’ approach leaves little flexibility to manage economic shocks without breaching her newly introduced [...]
Moody’s upgrades UK banking outlook as lenders weather falling interest rates October 2, 2024 Credit rating agency Moody's has upgraded its outlook for the UK banking system to "stable" from "negative", expecting lenders' balance sheets to stay resilient to falling interest rates.
UK water firms could face £2bn in fines over next five years, Moody’s warns August 15, 2024 UK water companies could be hit with a total of roughly £2bn in fines over the next five years, Moody's has estimated, warning that more demanding proposals from the industry regulator increase risk in the sector.
Thames Water handed more special measures from Ofwat after credit rating downgrade August 7, 2024 Thames Water will be made to appoint an independent monitor and develop a “suitable” turnaround plan as part of a raft of new measures from the regulator after the its credit rating was downgraded. Ofwat said that the recent decisions from Moody’s and S&P – two of the world’s largest credit ratings agencies – to [...]
Moody’s slaps Thames Water’s debt with ‘junk’ rating July 24, 2024 Moody’s Ratings has lowered Thames Water’s highest tranche of debt to 'junk' in another blow to the struggling water firm.
TfL gets vote of confidence from Moody’s as passenger numbers drive recovery July 16, 2024 Moody's said the upgrade reflected a "significant improvement" in Transport for London's operating performance.
Why airport expansions fuelled by booming travel demand could be a double-edged sword July 15, 2024 In a report, the ratings agency Moody's said rising passenger numbers would drive "significant investment" in expansion projects.