RATING AGENCIES (FINANCE) – AUSTRALIA

Moody’s warns on Fortescue executive churn

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 20-Sep-23

Ratings agency Moody’s has reaffirmed its ‘Ba1’ credit rating for iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group. However, Moody’s has warned that the high level of turnover within Fortesue’s executive ranks in the last several years could adversely affect the company’s credit rating. The firm also notes that the high level of stock ownership by Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest increases governance risks, while it adds that looming final investment decisions on five clean energy projects may put further pressure on Fortescue’s balance sheet.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED

S&P warns of climate credit risks

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Original article by David Ross
The Australian – Page: 15 : 18-Jan-23

S&P Global Ratings says the severity and frequency of bushfires and floods facing Australia is increasing. The firm has warned that the credit ratings of the nation’s banks, insurers, and state and local governments could potentially be downgraded if this trend continues. S&P Global Ratings adds that insurers face the greatest risk from weather-related events, given that they are set to experience two successive years of large losses.

CORPORATES
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS

Alert on $45bn Labor spree

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Original article by Patrick Commins
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 30-May-22

S&P Global Ratings has warned that the federal government’s "off-balance-sheet" election promises could potentially put Australia’s coveted AAA credit rating at risk. Labor announced nearly $45bn worth of spending commitments during the election, including its "rewiring the nation" program and funding for social and affordable housing. The ratings agency’s lead country analyst Anthony Walker says off-balance sheet spending is automatically included in its assessment of a nation’s financial position. Walker adds that further government spending risks fuelling inflation and more aggressive tightening of monetary policy.

CORPORATES
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

BHP sale could hurt its credit rating

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 17 : 25-Aug-21

S&P Global Ratings says BHP’s proposed deal to merge its petroleum division with Woodside Petroleum will further increase its reliance on iron ore and make its earnings less diversified than rivals such as Rio Tinto and Glencore. BHP currently has a credit rating of ‘A’ from S&P, which has put it on CreditWatch negative; S&P has also flagged the possibility that the Woodside deal could prompt it to downgrade BHP’s credit rating by two notches, to ‘BBB+’.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS

AAA rating likely to be downgraded

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Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 13-May-21

S&P Global Ratings placed Australia’s triple-A credit rating on negative outlook in April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commonwealth Bank has warned that Australia could potentially be downgraded to AA+ when S&P undertakes its annual review of the nation’s credit rating in September. Fixed income strategists Philip Brown and Martin Whetton attribute this to Australia’s rapidly growing net debt. However, ratings agencies are generally positive about Budget measures aimed at further stimulating the economy.

CORPORATES
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA

Climate threatens ratings: Moody’s

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 14-Jan-20

A report from Moody’s Investors Service has concluded that the bushfire crisis will reduce GDP growth by less than 0.1 per cent. The ratings agency adds that the federal and state governments have sufficient fiscal buffers to cope with the current crisis, but it warns that an increase in climate change-related natural disasters in the future could negatively affect their credit ratings. Meanwhile, Anthony Walker of S&P says the federal government’s return to a Budget surplus may be delayed by the bushfire emergency, although he adds that this would be unlikely to have any effect on Australia’s credit rating.

CORPORATES
MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS

Santos slumps after rating downgrade

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 10-Dec-14

Investors have responded bearishly to a move by Standard & Poor’s to reduce the credit rating of Australian-listed Santos from "BBB+" to "BBB". Santos shares closed $A0.60 lower at $A7.70 on 9 December 2014, after reaching an intra-day low of $A7.46. The oil and gas producer has indicated that the ratings downgrade will have no impact on its finances, and notes that it has a healthy balance sheet

CORPORATES
SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, STANDARD AND POOR’S (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

PM wins an AAA-rating for his responsible approach to stimulus

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Original article by Patrick Commins
The Australian – Page: 6 : 28-Nov-19

S&P Global Ratings has praised the federal government’s commitment to a balanced Budget rather than pursuing stimulus measures. The ratings agency has warned that any fiscal stimulus that led to a change in the trajectory of the Budget could jeopardise Australia’s coveted triple-A credit rating. Anthony Walker, S&P’s director of sovereign ratings, has also warned that fiscal stimulus is likely to affect the nation’s ability to respond to future unforeseen economic shocks.

CORPORATES
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Credit raters circle wagons around banks

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Original article by James Eyers, James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 & 14 : 10-Oct-19

Australia’s banks are under growing scrutiny over their failure to reduce their mortgage interest rates by 0.25 per cent in line with the latest official interest rate cut. However, S&P Global Ratings says banks’ profits and capital buffers may be adversely affected if they yield to political pressure and match the Reserve Bank’s rate cut. S&P adds that this could in turn prompt a review of the banking sector’s credit rating. Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings are also supportive of the banks’ decision to withhold part of the official interest rate cut.

CORPORATES
S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, IBISWORLD PTY LTD, COPLEY FUND RESEARCH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

AMP’s credit ratings still at risk after stalled life sale

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Original article by Jonathan Shapiro, James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 17-Jul-19

S&P Global has advised that AMP’s credit rating will remain on negative watch after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand imposed conditions on the sale of its life insurance business. Nicholas Yap of Nomura believes that AMP is likely to face a credit ratings downgrade at some point, citing factors such as a reduction in the value of its life business and a class action lawsuit over excessive superannuation fees. AMP shares fell 1.6 per cent to $1.78 on 16 July.

CORPORATES
AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, AMP LIFE LIMITED, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, NOMURA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, RESOLUTION LIFE GROUP LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED