Country risk March 2005: As spreads tighten the world gets riskier

Methodology | 

IN A YEAR in which sovereign credit ratings upgrades continued to outpace sovereign downgrades, according to Standard & Poor's, there has also been a further narrowing of spreads in emerging countries' issues or credits. S&P upgraded 28 sovereigns in 2004 and lowered the rating on only seven. This upward trend looks to continue into the first part of 2005.

In our September 2004 survey we reported an aggregate upward shift in the total absolute risk score for all 185 countries rated of 4.5%. This time however, despite sovereign upgrades, there has been a decrease of 3.5% in the overall ratings this half year. This can be attributed to geopolitical instability in the Middle East and Africa.

Underpricing credit fundamentals

According to Francis Nicollas at Crédit Agricole, there has been a "sharp decrease in the...