Rating of Countries

The rating of coutries has never been noted like the way it has been watched now. The US has enjoyed an AAA rating from S&P since 1917. But now its rating was downgraded from AAA to AA+.

That brings us to the question of how the other countries in the world are rated. Here is a brief summary.

(1) After the USA derating, there are now only 16 countries left in the exclusive AAA club as rated by Moody's and S&P. (Click the map to enlarge).
(2) Being in India, we would be keen to know how our country has been rated. We enjoy "BBB-" rating. But we are happy - as always.
(3) Now the only way S&P could please USA is to rerate other countries - atleast a few. That may trigger fresh set of concerns about the countries ability to fact economic turmoils.
(4) But what ever said and done, each country will be doing what ever possible to keep them afloat like printing paper money.
(5) Rarely country like Greece are on the verge of default. Does it mean that those countries who lent money to Greece take over the country along with other assets and liabilities?

At the end it is quiet clear - be it people or country - living of borrowed money is dangerous. And Derating indicates the detoriating conditions.