Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Euro meltdown: Nicolas Sarkozy flies into Berlin for crisis talks with Angela Merkel

Euro meltdown: Nicolas Sarkozy flies into Berlin for crisis talks with Angela Merkel 

By ALLAN HALL

French President Nicolas Sarkozy today flew to Berlin for a summit with Angela Merkel aimed at forging a common stance on the Greek rescue package as the eurozone lurches closer to collapse.

Chancellor Merkel telephoned the French president on Tuesday night after she said that Thursday's summit was unlikely to deliver the 'silver bullet' necessary to fix the debt engulfing weak countries that use the euro

Mrs Merkel, who is increasingly agitated at Germany being called upon to be the main bailout partner for countries like Greece, Ireland and Portugal, is seen by her countrymen as increasingly weak and without direction.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2016775/European-debt-crisis-Nicolas-Sarkozy-jets-Berlin-talks-Angela-Merkel.html

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Moody’s Places U.S. on Review for Downgrade As Debt Talks Stall

Moody’s Places U.S. on Review for Downgrade As Debt Talks Stall
Q By John Detrixhe - Jul 13, 2011 6:01 PM ET

Moody’s Investors Service put the U.S. under review for a credit rating downgrade as talks to raise the government’s $14.3 trillion debt limit stall, adding to concern that political gridlock will lead to a default.

The Aaa ratings of financial institutions directly linked to the U.S. government, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the Federal Farm Credit Banks, were also put on review for cuts, Moody’s said in a statement today.

The U.S., rated Aaa since 1917, was put on review for the first time since 1995 on concern the debt limit will not be raised in time to prevent a missed payment of interest or principal on outstanding bonds and notes even though the risk remains low, Moody’s said. The rating would likely be reduced to the Aa range and there is no assurance that Moody’s would return its top rating even if a default is quickly cured.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-13/u-s-rating-placed-on-review-for-downgrade-by-moody-s-as-debt-talks-stall.html