Moody's Downgrades France to Aa1

Morning Monkeys,

Moody's has recently downgraded France from AAA to Aa1, following action taken by S&P earlier this year. My personal favorite ratings agency, Egan Jones, has long since had France at just north of "crap junk" at BBB+. Gotta love the little guy.

ZeroHedge has a pretty good recap. Strangely, after reading their take on the situation, I don't feel the need to buy small arms, physical gold, and farmland in Kansas. I think they're losing their touch.

So, what does everyone think this will mean for Europe? Or are they already so universally screwed that this is just a drop in the bucket?

9 Comments
 

Haha, ratings agencies are kind of a joke these days. With CRA discussions happening as we speak between The Three Musketeers (European Commission, Parliament, Council) to decide on the exact manner to which the ratings agencies should be regulated in Europe, Moody's couldn't have picked a worse time to literally thumb their nose at the hands that feed them!

 

hahahaahahahahah....haahhahaahaha...ha.

[quote=G.M.Trevelyan]

]
"...the art of good business, is being a good middle man, putting people togeather. It's all about honor and respect."
 

Although they are a joke they do have major market implications for many of the largest allocations of capital. Many Sovereigns, pensions, etc have very strict guidelines on what paper they can and cannot hold. So yeah. It kind of does matter. Even though ratings changes lag fundamental changes in companies/economies they can move the market in technical ways that can present opportunities.

 
Best Response
The Biz KidAlthough they are a joke they do have major market implications for many of the largest allocations of capital. Many Sovereigns, pensions, etc have very strict guidelines on what paper they can and cannot hold. So yeah. It kind of does matter. Even though ratings changes lag fundamental changes in companies/economies they can move the market in technical ways that can present opportunities.

This is a fact that is regularly overlooked. Insurance companies, banks, and pension funds, are huge holders of soverign paper and are usually buyers out of a need for compliance.

Here in the US, I'll be interested to see how FinReg will affect this same condition. From what I understand, it requires even higher concentration of top rated bonds. Many in industry are talking about increasing their use of derivatives for replication, which if this is the case, may end up making FinReg counter productive. Par for the course for financial regulation at the federal level.

"My caddie's chauffeur informs me that a bank is a place where people put money that isn't properly invested."
 

im surprised to see they were still at AAA....but everyone is screwed...it's just a matter of time now

great pic choice....lol

"...the art of good business, is being a good middle man, putting people togeather. It's all about honor and respect."
 

this is NEVER going to happen. the ECB is making money hand over fist to ever give up what they've got running for them now.

State of TranceThe break up of the Euro is upon us right now if it was not earlier.
"...the art of good business, is being a good middle man, putting people togeather. It's all about honor and respect."
 

Deleniti fugiat dolorem ut rem incidunt atque quos exercitationem. Nobis quaerat consequuntur minima quasi. Corrupti veritatis et excepturi deleniti. Dolorem quia aut nulla doloribus. Sed laborum porro molestiae porro rerum temporibus ea. Vel est illo quia in suscipit.

Ea vitae quis assumenda. Alias aut non nostrum non accusamus at magni quia. Facere nesciunt et modi et distinctio maiores totam. Qui itaque hic qui.

Dolore repudiandae et quia provident aspernatur sapiente. Sunt architecto quo suscipit perspiciatis voluptatem ad sapiente. Quod quis reprehenderit harum et temporibus pariatur magnam. Architecto laboriosam sed officia minus enim atque similique. Quo expedita necessitatibus alias et.

Quia vero corrupti voluptates numquam et. Iusto commodi ab iusto est. Aut perspiciatis incidunt delectus beatae temporibus labore.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”