Forex Market: Mass Ratings Downgrades Fuel Debt Crisis Concern

FOREX MARKET

Markets are going to remain nervous for some more time as S&P ratings agency punished nine eurozone countries with downgrades and to striped France and Austria of their triple-A ratings. Even though S&P said that Germany’s rating is in excellent condition, the downgrading is likely to have direct consequences for country. EUR/USD had fallen sharply after the statement. FOREX MARKET investors should be cautious as the bad news will have more impact on the financial markets.
S&P said “We have lowered the long-term ratings on Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, and Spain by two notches; lowered the long-term ratings on Austria, France, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia, by one notch; and affirmed the long-term ratings on Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. All ratings have been removed from CreditWatch, where they were placed with negative implications on Dec. 5, 2011 (except for Cyprus, which was first placed on CreditWatch on Aug. 12, 2011)” in its statement. We believe that the negative outlooks for virtually every eurozone country suggest that the debt crisis will remain an issue for the forex market throughout this year.
Forex Market: Mass Ratings Downgrades Fuel Debt Crisis Concern

EU leaders have to act faster and regain investors’ confidence in order to control the ongoing crisis. However, it seems that eurozone chiefs will continue to rely on state level solutions like fiscal union and debt brake. In addition, the downgrade of the nine countries will increase pressure for all of the eurozone countries to solve their budget and debt problems. Some forex market investors think that relations among the eurozone members are likely to become more difficult after this point.
Forex market has been expecting downgrades of France and other European countries, but it is hard to tell how much the downgrades have already been priced in. director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, Fredrik Erixon said “The U.S. is still rightly seen as a safe haven. The U.S. is a big liquid economy with a strong tradition of honoring its debts in modern times and a central bank pledged to take action if needed. It’s different with France in the sense that they cannot rely on strong central bank policies”.
Forex Market: Mass Ratings Downgrades Fuel Debt Crisis Concern

Forex Market
What we can take away from the above analysis is that. With more possible downgrading to come on other European Countries. We will remain bearish when trading the Eur. And to look for opportunities to enter on rebound of the Eur/Usd.
 
Ezekiel Chew
Asia #1 Forex Mentor