Bond credit raters Moody’s Investor Services have affirmed Estonia’s A1 government bond rating and stable outlook.
As reported on this blog, Fitch had already upped Estonia’s rating to A+, so this is more good news.
The rating was based on factors including the Estonian government’s budgetary rigour and financial strength during the continuing crises of the 2008-10 downturn and the Eurozone (Estonia joined the Euro in January 2011) the low level of public debt, healthy banks and Estonia’s ability to withstand external shocks.
The rating could change over time of course, with both up- and downgrades possible. If Estonia had a long-term track record of steady growth (GDP has of course been growing since the downturn) and a strengthening and diversification of its economic base (recovery has largely been export driven) an upgrade might be on the cards, according to Moody’s.
Conversely, if an intensification of the Eurozone crisis had a negative impact on the public debt situation, or if foreign bank owners (the bulk of the successful banks in Estonia are Scandinavian owned) wavered on their commitments, which could have a similar effect, a downgrade could result.
In Any event, A1 it is! More information from Moody’s is here.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Sovereign Bond Ratings published in September 2008. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Andrew Whyte
Tallinn Property by Goodson & Red
