With the Eurozone committed to backing Greece, Standard & Poor’s rating agency upgraded Greek sovereign debt back to highly speculative, or “junk,” status, lifting the outlook on Greek assets and the related exchange traded fund.
The Global X FTSE Greece 20 ETF (NYSEArca: GREK) increased 1% on the upgrade. The ETF is up 18.1% year-to-date. [Greece ETF Choppy on Bailout Uncertainty]
S&P analysts brought Greek debt to a non-investment, highly speculative grade B-, or up six notches from its prior D default status, noting the country’s stability, France 24 reports.
“The outlook on the long-term rating is stable, balancing our view of the government’s commitment to a fiscal and structural adjustment against the economic and political challenges of doing so,” S&P said, according to a report. “The upgrade reflects our view of the strong determination of European Economic and Monetary Union (eurozone) member states to preserve Greek membership in the eurozone.”
Greece recently completed its distressed debt buyback as the country was approved by the Eurozone for a loan disbursement in compliance with Greece’s continued austerity measures.
S&P could raise Greece’s long-term debt rating if the country adheres to the EU/IMF Economic Adjustment Programs, which would provide stability to its policymaking and improve the country’s economic sustainability.