International credit rating agency Standard and Poor's downgraded on Wednesday Spain's credit rating from “AA+” to “AA” with a negative outlook. The move comes a day after S&P gave Greek bonds a junk rating and lowered Portugal's credit rating from “A+” to “A-”.
Brazil plans to sell bonds in international markets in coming weeks, taking advantage of the lowest borrowing costs since October 2007, Treasury Secretary Arno Augustin said.
The behaviour of two credit rating agencies in the run-up to the financial crisis has been criticised by US senators following an investigation.