The group of privileged nations with triple-A sovereign ratings and stable outlooks from all three rating agencies is diminishing, with only eight countries currently making the ultra-safe haven cut.

Last year's casualties included the UK, which was placed on negative watch by Moody's in February, and Germany, which was stripped of its stable outlook by the rating agency in July. Finland made it back n the list in January, when Standard & Poor's revised its outlook from negative to stable.