Ratings Downgrade Looms for Malaysia

The inability of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to repay its debts may trigger a downgrade in Malaysia’s sovereign ratings, dealing yet another blow to a country already hit by falling oil prices.

“Certainly, the risk is there for a downgrade,” said Hak Bin Chua, Asean economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Ratings agency Moody’s warned last week that a worsening in Malaysia’s debt dynamics or the crystallization of large contingent liabilities could exert downward pressure on its current A3 rating. Meanwhile, Fitch has an A- rating with a negative outlook on the country, which means a cut is likely within the next 12-18 months, according to a recent statement from the agency.

CNBC

Content is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please access the RSS feed or contact us at info@marketpulse.com. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2023 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.