Fitch cuts Italy's credit rating to 'BBB-minus' with stable outlook

Published Tue, Apr 28, 2020 · 10:23 PM
Share this article.

[BENGALURU] Rating agency Fitch cut Italy's credit rating to "BBB-minus" on Tuesday, just one notch above junk, saying the downgrade reflects the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the euro zone's third largest economy.

Fitch had not been due to review Italy's rating until July and the shock move is another blow to a country that has the world's second highest death toll from the virus and a chronically sluggish economy now heading into steep recession.

Fitch changed Italy's outlook to stable from negative, saying that it sees the European Central Bank's net asset purchases helping Italy's fiscal response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Feb 7, two weeks before Italy's first Covid-19 cases emerged, Fitch had affirmed its rating and outlook.

The agency forecast that the Italian economy will contract by 8 per cent this year, which is in line with the government's own projection made last week, and said Italy's public debt will climb to 156 per cent of gross domestic product from 134.8 per cent last year. That is broadly in line with the 155.7 per cent forecast of the government of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the centre-left Democratic Party.

"According to our baseline debt dynamics scenario, the debt to GDP ratio will only stabilise at this very high level over the medium term, underlining debt sustainability risks," the agency said.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

VIEW ALL

It said the country's banking sector has also deteriorated after the Covid-19 shock, relative to Fitch's previous expectations of a stabilisation in performance and further asset quality improvement in 2020.

Italian Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said Fitch had failed to take account of important decisions taken by the European Union and the European Central Bank to support the economies of the euro zone and its members.

"The fundamentals of Italy's economy and public finances are solid," Mr Gualtieri said in a statement.

On Friday fellow ratings agency Standard & Poor's confirmed its rating and outlook on Italy.

REUTERS

BT is now on Telegram!

For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to  t.me/BizTimes

International

SUPPORT SOUTH-EAST ASIA'S LEADING FINANCIAL DAILY

Get the latest coverage and full access to all BT premium content.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Browse corporate subscription here