BUDAPEST, (Reuters) – A rating downgrade yesterday left Hungary’s debt rated “junk” across the board, underscoring investors’ doubts about the government’s willingness to change its controversial policies in return for aid to stave off a financial crisis.
Fitch Ratings said it was downgrading Hungarian sovereign debt by one notch to BB+ with a negative outlook, putting the country’s bonds in the higher risk category and suggesting the investment climate was not going to get any better. Fellow credit rating agencies Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s already rate Hungary below investment grade.
“(This) reflects further deterioration in the country’s fiscal and external financing environment and growth outlook, caused in part by further unorthodox economic policies which are undermining investor confidence and complicating the agreement of a new IMF/EU deal,” Fitch said in a statement.
Hungary’s government said it found the move “surprising”.
Fitch’s move comes as Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has been seeking to ease tensions on financial markets by suggesting it is willing to work quickly towards a deal with the International Monetary Fund.
Orban’s conservative government faces tough negotiations over a new funding deal with officials from the IMF and European Union later this month. The officials have made it clear the Hungarian government needs to change its stance on a law they have said curbs central bank independence.
Under mounting pressure from financial markets, the government has backtracked from its initial insistence on sticking to legislation disputed by the EU and IMF and has made some concessions to lenders in order to be able to start talks quickly and secure a new financing deal.
