S&P sees downgrade blitz in EMU recession, threatening crisis strategy

S&P sees downgrade blitz in EMU recession, threatening crisis strategy
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

Standard & Poor's (S&P) is to warn that a double-dip recession in Europe would imperil France's AAA rating and set off a string of downgrades across Southern Europe, undermining the EU's debt crisis strategy.

The EU-IMF bail-out machinery would require an extra €250bn or more to stabilize eurozone debt markets, forcing Germany and EU's creditor states to vastly increase rescue commitments.

The report, due Friday, said a double-dip recession would lead to a downgrade of "one or two notches" for France, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal, both because of tumbling tax revenues and the extra costs of propping up banks.

The scenario looks increasingly likely after Germany slashed its growth forecast from 1.8pc to 1pc for 2012. Greece and Portugal are contracting at alarming speeds. Italy and Spain are already in industrial recession.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/8839972/SandP-sees-downgrade-blitz-in-EMU-recession-threatening-crisis-strategy.html