Moody’s Improves Ratings Outlook For Argentina Local Government

Moody's Investors Service has changed the rating outlook to positive, from stable, for two local governments in Argentina. The agency said the action was prompted by a similar, recent, outlook change for Argentina’s B2 foreign currency country ceiling for bonds. The governments and ratings affected are: City of Buenos Aires foreign currency bonds rated B2 (global scale) and Aa3.ar (Argentina national scale). Both were assigned a positive outlook; these ratings are constrained by Argentina's foreign currency country ceiling. The outlook for domestic currency bonds rated B1 and Aa2.ar remains stable, said the agency. Meanwhile, Province of Mendoza foreign currency bonds due September 2018 rated B2 (global scale) were assigned a positive outlook; this rating is constrained by Argentina's foreign currency country ceiling. The outlook for the province's domestic currency issuer ratings of B1 (global scale) and Aa3.ar (Argentina national scale), as well as for its foreign currency bonds due September 2018 rated Aa3.ar (Argentina national scale), remains stable.

Moody’s Improves Argentina Outlook

Moody’s Investors Service has raised the outlook on its B3 foreign- and local-currency rating of Argentina’s sovereign bonds from stable to positive. The change was due to “continued improvement in the fiscal accounts that, combined with robust economic growth and substantial accumulation of international reserves, has contributed to strengthening the government's overall credit profile and to reducing external vulnerabilities”, according to Moody’s. An outlook change to positive from stable was also made to Argentina’s B2 foreign currency country ceiling for bonds and to the Caa1 ceiling for foreign currency bank deposits. Unaffected by the rating action is Argentina’s Ba1 local currency bond ceiling, the highest possible rating that could be assigned to obligors and obligations denominated in local currency within the country remains stable, as well as the Ba1 local currency deposit ceiling.