Upgrade: Moody’s raises Germany’s outlook

Rating firm cites improving debt-to-GDP ratio down to 79% from 81% in 2012.

WASHINGTON: Moody’s raised its outlook for the German bond rating from ‘negative’ to ‘stable’ on Friday, citing the lowered risk that Berlin would be called on to prop up weak Eurozone economies. Progress toward closing the country’s fiscal deficit also contributed to the strengthening of Germany’s top-flight AAA rating, Moody’s said. “Moody’s expects balanced fiscal budgets for2014 and 2015, the authorities are unlikely to deviate from the prudent fiscal policy stance announced in the coalition agreement,” it said. The rating firm cited an improving debt-to-GDP ratio, down to 79% from 81% in 2012, and the country’s low funding costs as strong positives as well. Another reason for the improved outlook for Europe’s largest economy was that risks that the government would have to do more to support its banks had diminished.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2014.

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