Fitch Downgrades 4 Portuguese Banks on Support Revision
May 19, 2015 16:54 pm UTC| Research & Analysis
Fitch Ratings has downgraded Banco Comercial Portugues, S.A.s (Millennium bcp) Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to BB- from BB+ and that of Banco BPI, S.A. to BB from BB+.At the same time, the agency has downgraded...
Fitch Downgrades Irish Banks' IDRs; Upgrades 3 VRs
May 19, 2015 16:48 pm UTC| Research & Analysis
Fitch Ratings has downgraded Bank of Irelands (BOI) and Bank of Ireland UK plcs (BOI UK) Long- and Short-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to BB+/B from BBB/ F2, and Allied Irish Banks plcs (AIB) and AIB UKs (AIBUK) Long-...
Moody's: Default rate estimated to rise among struggling E&P companies
May 19, 2015 14:11 pm UTC| Research & Analysis
The 12-month default rate forecast for Oil and Gas companies rated B2 or below in the Exploration and Production (EP) sector is estimated to more than double in the year ahead, Moodys Investors Service said in a new...
Fitch: US Investors Less Bullish on Economic Outlook; Expect Corporate Leverage to Rise
May 19, 2015 13:36 pm UTC| Research & Analysis
U.S. credit investors were more cautious on the economic outlook for the U.S. in the April Fitch Ratings/Fixed Income Forum survey than they were six months earlier. However, their expectations were much more optimistic...
Moody's: Australian life insurers' profits under pressure through to 2016
May 19, 2015 01:17 am UTC| Research & Analysis
Moodys Investors Service says the profitability of Australian life insurers will be under pressure throughout 2015 and 2016, due to the policy lapses and rising claims seen for their risk products."The higher number of...
Fitch: Opportunities and Risks Abound in China's Corporate Bond Market
May 19, 2015 01:11 am UTC| Research & Analysis
Fitch Ratings says in its latest China Research Initiative Blue Book that the development of Chinas fast-growing corporate bond market is being hampered by regulatory fragmentation. Several government agencies oversee a...
Fitch: Big Five IPPs Remain Key Policy Vehicles for China's Clean Energy Goal
May 19, 2015 01:08 am UTC| Research & Analysis
Fitch Ratings says in a new report that Chinas big five state-owned independent power plant operator groups (Big Five IPPs) will remain important policy vehicles that the state will use to meet its goal of shifting the...