Banking, finance, and taxes

Kissing PIIGS... S&P Downgrades Spain (SNF, EWP, BBVA, STD, REP, TEF)

Standard & Poor’s just hit the brakes on the markets, a day after cutting Greece and Portugal.  The PIIGS are taking another toll, with the cut today being the long-term rating of the Sovereign Kingdom of Spain.  S&P’s cut its rating to “AA” from “AA+”and the “A-1+” short-term sovereign credit rating was affirmed. The outlook is negative.  S&P’s transfer and convertibility assessment is unchanged at ‘AAA’

We are seeing moves in the main stocks and funds which track Spain: The Ibero-America Fund, Inc. (NYSE: SNF), iShares MSCI Spain Index (NYSE: EWP), Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE: BBVA), Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE: STD), Repsol YPF SA (NYSE: REP), and Telefonica SA (NYSE: TEF).

S&P notes, “Spain is likely to have an extended period of subdued economic growth, which weakens its budgetary position…”

Stock/Fund Price Chg$ Chg% 52-Week
Ibero-America Fund, Inc (The) $5.88 Down 0.19 Down 3.13% 4.40 – 8.07
iShares Trust (Barclays Global $39.08 Down 0.01 Down 0.02% 32.43 – 52.67
Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria $12.49 Down 0.50 Down 3.85% 9.88 – 19.78
Banco Santander, S.A. Sponsored $11.79 Down 0.25 Down 2.08% 8.03 – 17.89
Repsol YPF S.A. Common Stock $22.11 Down 0.87 Down 3.79% 18.03 – 28.65
Telefonica SA Common Stock $64.55 Down 1.25 Down 1.90% 56.14 – 89.62

The negative outlook reflects the possibility of a downgrade if the nation’s budgetary position underperforms more than is currently expected.  The move away from a credit fueled economy will now result in longer-term growth from 2010 to 2016 is what S&P thinks will now be about 0.7% rather than 1.0% previously expected; and S&P expects that the nominal GDP will regain the 2008 level by 2015 rather than 2013 previously forecast.

S&P also sees private sector debt at 178% of GDP, above many of Spain’s peers.  Also noted is an inflexible labor market, where unemployment is expected to reach 21% in 2010.

You know the rest.  High debt, lower GDP, deleveraging, and on and on…

JON OGG

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.