2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

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8210195
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# Ireland downgrade knocks world markets
## World markets fell as investors took to the sidelines after a sharp
downgrade of Irish debt highlighted the lack of unity in Europe over how to
deal with the escalating debt crisis.
![Ireland downgrade knocks world markets. Ireland's prime minister Brian Cowen
faced more bad news today when Moody's downgraded Ireland five notches to
Baa1.][1]
Ireland's prime minister Brian Cowen faced more bad news today when Moody's
downgraded Ireland five notches to Baa1. Photo: Reuters
5:18PM GMT 17 Dec 2010
[Comments][2]
Major markets in Europe and the United States lost ground, with London's FTSE
100 closing down 27 points - or 0.16pc - at 5871.75, Germany's DAX sliding
0.6pc, and France's CAC losing 0.5pc.
The Dow Jones was trading 0.2pc lower, despite the Conference Board's index of
leading economic indicators rising 1.1pc last month -- the biggest increase
since March and a sign that the world's biggest economy will strengthen early
next year.
Moody's cut its evaluation of Ireland's creditworthiness by five notches to
Baa1 and warned further downgrades could follow if Dublin was unable to
stabilise its debt situation.
"The Irish downgrade was significant and severe," said Nick Stamenkovic, bond
strategist at RIA Capital Markets in Edinburgh. "The timing of it is a bit of
a surprise, since Ireland has just passed the bailout. The decision by Moody's
is very procyclical."
The downgrade hit banking shares, with part-nationalised British bank Lloyds
falling in London after it warned it would take a further hit from impairments
on its Irish portfolio as a result of Ireland's economic and fiscal deficit
problems.
## Related Articles
* [ECB doubles capital base to stem Spanish crisis][3]
17 Dec 2010
* [Portugal and Spain seen as riskier after Irish downgrade][4]
17 Dec 2010
* [Spanish debt auction pushes borrowing costs to decade high][5]
16 Dec 2010
* [Germany defiant as Europe suffers][6]
16 Dec 2010
* [United front by Merkel, Sarkozy hits euro, push up bonds yields][7]
10 Dec 2010
* [EU agrees to create permanent financial saftety net][8]
17 Dec 2010
"The eurozone crisis will still be a major focus for the next two or three
months," said Mark Bon, fund manager at Canada Life in London.
Financial markets, which have been waiting for decisive action from the
European Union on euzozone sovereign debts, got no answer from the leaders of
the 27 EU nations on Thursday night. While they **[agreed to create a new
crisis resolution mechanism][9] **to kick in after 2013, they did not agree on
any measures to ease the debt crisis now.
Germany and France, the region's paymasters, are opposed to increasing the
current bailout fund and have rejected the notion of creating European bonds.
"The reality for markets is that little concrete has been delivered," said
Daragh Maher of Credit Agricole CIB.
After Ireland's credit rating was slashed, German borrowing costs fell and
those in the countries seen as next in line in Europe's debt crisis, such as
Spain and Portugal, rose as investors opted for safety.
"The market's very much got Portugal and Spain in its sights," Mr Stamenkovic
said. "The market's in a pretty jittery mood."
Yesterday, the European Central Bank (ECB) yesterday said it would double its
capital base to €10.76bn to cope with "credit risk" stemming from the eurozone
debt crisis. This was seen as paving the way for direct action to shore up the
Spanish debt markets if necessary.
Eurozone members will provide the increase.
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## [Financial Crisis][15]
* ### [Ireland »][16]
* ### [Spain »][17]
* ### [Finance »][18]
* ### [Economics »][19]
* ### [Markets »][20]
In finance
[![Truncheon-wielding police in Barcelona have clashed with protesters at a
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### [Q&A: What is the Independent Commission on Banking?][30]
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