Moody's threatens 17 banks with downgrade

Rating agency Moody's says it may cut the credit ratings of 17 global and 114 European financial institutions with exposure to the eurozone debt crisis.

• Moody's cuts ratings, outlooks on nine in EU
• Markets dip as Moody's spooks Europe
• Italy extends probe to Fitch

Fitch could downgrade Italy - director

A senior director of ratings agency Fitch says it could revise Italy's rating by two notches.

• 'Awful' Italy debt sale ups euro stress
• Italian cabinet good for economy
• Investors shrug off Italian downgrade

Global leaders urge swift action on EU crisis

Global leaders and businessmen say the EU must take fresh steps to resolve its debt crisis, as an IMF executive warns of a "downward spiral" in confidence.

• Merkel vows faster eurozone reform
• S&P set to cut eurozone, sparking jitters
• S&P eurozone cut talk hits euro, stocks

S&P, Fitch see no rating hit from Kim death

Standard & Poor's and Fitch say the death of North Korean dicator Kim Jong-il is unlikely to affect South Korea's A rating.

• G20 in global liquidity supply talks
• Currency row spoils global meeting
• Uncertainty clouds S.Korean economy

Hopes emerge for US debt deal

Chances that lawmakers were close to a last-minute deal brightened after Republican and Democratic leaders reopened stalled talks with the White House.

SA gets second ratings boost

SA has received another vote of confidence, with Standard & Poor's joining Fitch in upgrading its outlook.

• Fillip for SA as Fitch revises rating
• Fitch optimistic about Sub-Saharan growth
• Fitch upbeat about SA's prospects in 2011

SA ranked no better than Greece

The major rating agencies, slated for not spotting the 2008 financial crisis, grade SA at least as low as troubled eurozone states like Greece.

• Economy recovering faster than expected
• Moody's: SA to grow despite strikes
• SA has large cash flow deficit