Greece Cut Four Steps to Junk by Moody’s on Economic ‘Risks’

June 14 (Bloomberg) -- Greece’s credit rating was cut four steps to non-investment grade, or junk, by Moody’s Investors Service, which cited the country’s economic “risks.” The rating was lowered to Ba1 from A3, Moody’s said in a statement today from London. The outlook is stable, it said. Greece is already rated junk by Standard & Poor’s.

The European Union last month announced a rescue package of almost $1 trillion, with support from the International Monetary Fund, to shore up the finances of the region’s weakest economies amid concern that governments will struggle to narrow their budget deficits. “It’s a significant downgrade,” said Kevin Flanagan, a Purchase, New York-based fixed-income strategist for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. “It’s not a surprise to people, but the timing and magnitude is what has taken Treasuries off the lows and is providing some support.”

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose six basis points to 3.30 percent, after rising to 3.33 percent. “The Ba1 rating reflects our analysis of the balance of the strengths and risks associated with the euro-zone-IMF support package,” Sarah Carlson, vice president-senior analyst in Moody’s sovereign risk group, said in the statement.

S&P cut Greece’s credit rating to non-investment grade on April 27, the first time a euro member lost its investment-grade since the euro’s 1999 debut. S&P warned that bondholders could recover as little as 30 percent of their initial investment if the country restructures its debt.