PORTUGAL and GREECE ratings cut by S&P

inspector_monkfish

15:52 27Apr10 -S&P CUTS PORTUGAL RATINGS TO 'A-/A-2'; OUTLOOK NEGATIVE

15:53 27Apr10 -S&P CUTS PORTUGAL'S LONG-TERM RATING TO 'A-' FROM 'A+'

15:53 27Apr10 -S&P CUTS PORTUGAL'S SHORT-TERM RATING TO 'A-2' FROM 'A-1'

15:54 27Apr10 -S&P SAYS PORTUGAL'S RATING OUTLOOK IS NEGATIVE

15:56 27Apr10 -S&P SAYS PORTUGAL'S RATINGS COULD BE CUT AGAIN IF DEFICITS AND DEBT EXCEED EXPECTATIONS

15:58 27Apr10 -S&P SAYS PORTUGAL'S TWO NOTCH DOWNGRADE REFLECTS HEIGHTENED FISCAL RISKS

15:59 27Apr10 -S&P SAYS PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT STABILIZE HIGH DEBT RATIO UNTIL 2013

15:59 27Apr10 -S&P downgrades Portugal citing debt worries

16:00 27Apr10 -S&P SAYS IT NOW EXPECTS PORTUGAL'S ECONOMY TO STAGNATE IN 2010

16:02 27Apr10 -S&P SAYS IT EXPECTS PORTUGAL'S GOVERNMENT DEBT TO RISE RAPIDLY TO 95 PCT OF GDP BY 2013 FROM 66 PCT IN 2008


NEW YORK, April 27 - Standard & Poor's on Tuesday
downgraded Portugal's ratings citing concerns about its ability to deal with high debt levels given its weak economic outlook.

The agency cut the rating by two notches to A-minus, or four notches above speculative, or "junk" status.

The action "reflects our view of the amplified fiscal risks Portugal faces," said the agency. "Under our revised base case economic growth scenario, we expect the Portuguese government could struggle to stabilize its relatively high debt ratio over the outlook horizon until 2013."

inspector_monkfish

16:26 27Apr10 -US GOVTS: S&P Cuts Greece Ratings to Junk Status - BB+/B


* S&P says Greece's rating outlook is negative cuts sovereign credit rates to
junk status (BB+/B).