Eurozone back on the brink as France has credit rating downgraded

 

Stock markets and the single currency fell sharply as Standard and Poor’s cut France’s AAA rating. The rating agency’s move triggered a backlash from European politicians and led to calls for Britain to be downgraded too. As many as eight other eurozone countries, led by Italy, were also facing downgrades that will make it more expensive for them to borrow. The move represents a further loss of confidence in the single currency and the European Union’s ability to rescue indebted eurozone members. The Treasury believes that the collapse of the euro could seriously damage the British economy and banking system, pushing the UK back into a deep recession. The agency’s move also threatens to torpedo the main European bail-out fund set up to support struggling countries such as Greece and Portugal. There are growing fears that Greece is edging closer to defaulting on its debts and being forced out of the single currency, with potentially devastating consequences. Talks between Greece and its creditors were put on hold on Friday.

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