Sovereign debt quality improved in 2000

Wednesday 3 January 2001 at 16:00

While corporate credit quality deteriorated in 2000, the status of government borrowers on average improved, according to the two biggest rating agencies.

In all, Moody's Investors Services upgraded the debt of 10 sovereign borrowers in 2000, downgrading only two. Standard & Poor's upgraded 12 sovereigns, downgrading five.