MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

China's credit rating downgraded by S&P, “but might still be too good”

S&P said in a statement: “The downgraded reflects our assessment that a prolonged period of strong credit growth has increased China's economic and financial risks.”

China's credit rating has been downgraded by Standard & Poor's (S&P) because of worries over the rapid buildup of debt in the country. S&P cut China's rating by one notch from AA- to A+, saying its debts had raised “economic and financial risks”.

 The International Monetary Fund warned in August that China's credit growth was on a “dangerous trajectory”. S&P's move puts its rating for China on a par with the two other major credit rating agencies, Moody's and Fitch.

This government has a growth target of 6.5% for 2017, although the economy grew at an annual rate of 6.9% in the second quarter of the year. One engine of growth has been investment in infrastructure and property by corporations and local authorities.

S&P said in a statement: “The downgrade reflects our assessment that a prolonged period of strong credit growth has increased China's economic and financial risks.”

Claire Dissaux, head of global economics and strategy at Millennium Global Investments in London, said the debt problem in China was immense: “China's credit problem is the biggest problem we have ever seen in any country and probably justifies a lower rating.”

She also warned that the centralized nature of the regime meant China's exact position might not be clear: “One element that models cannot capture is the strength of institutions, such as transparency of regulation of the banking sector and central bank independence. All that is an argument to say China's rating might still be too good.”