Forex: USD/JPY hits 8-day high into the close

Moody’s maintains a negative outlook on Spanish rating

Moody’s rating agency announced today that it maintains a negative outlook on Spain’s Baa3 credit rating. One of the main reasons for this decision was the agency’s conviction that the country will fail to reach the 4.5% deficit target fixed by the EU.

In Moody’s opinion, Spain will only manage to bring down its deficit to 6% this year, failing thus to reach the 4.5% target required by Brussels.

In the report, which was released in the European morning, the agency assures that the continuous deviations from the deficit objectives and the recurring revisions of the estimates carried out by the Spanish government undermine its credibility.

Even though the agency acknowledges the country’s fiscal consolidation efforts and highlights the good results obtained in 2012, it also warns against the multiple threats to the Spanish economy. – FXstreet.com (Barcelona)