Ratings agency Fitch has warned that Russia will soon default on its debts as sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine squeeze the economy.
It came hours before latest inflation data showed consumers in the country already being hit by surging prices as the rouble plunges – making imports more expensive.
Fitch slashed its rating on Russia’s ability to repay its debts to C saying a default was “imminent” – just seven days after a previous downgrade to B which saw the country lose its investment-grade status.
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Lower ratings signal to investors in sovereign bonds – small parcels of government debt – that these investments carry a higher risk of not being repaid.
That typically means that those investors will charge more interest to lend to that country.
The C rating in Fitch’s assessment brings it into line with an equivalent score by Moody’s, another leading ratings agency.
Fitch said in a statement late on Tuesday: “The ‘C’ rating reflects Fitch’s view that a sovereign default is imminent.”
It pointed to a decree which could force bondholders in specified countries to be repaid in roubles rather than dollars or euros – an unpalatable prospect at a time when the Russian currency has sunk to record lows.
“Further ratcheting up of sanctions and proposals that could limit trade in energy increase probability of a policy response by Russia that includes at least selective non-payment of its sovereign debt obligations,” the ratings agency added.
Russia is due to pay $107m to bondholders on 16 March – though it will have a 30-day grace period to make the payments.
Meanwhile, figures on Wednesday from the country’s official statistics agency showed…
Source : skynews
