By John Lee. Moody's has changed its outlook on the Government of Iraq to negative from stable and affirmed the long-term issuer ratings at Caa1. It said: "The change in the outlook to negative reflects rising risks to Iraq's credit profile stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, as risks to energy flows and […]
By John Lee. Iraq's national team and technical committee for sovereign credit ratings have held a joint meeting to discuss mechanisms for improving the country's sovereign and credit rating. The meeting was chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, and attended by the Prime Minister's adviser and head […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani has directed the formation of a joint national team to strengthen Iraq's financial and economic standing internationally. The team will be chaired by the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq and include representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Oil, and Planning, along with specialised economic and […]
By John Lee. Moody's Investors Service has assigned first time local currency long-term/short-term deposit ratings of B3/NP for National Bank of Iraq (NBI), and foreign currency long-term/short-term deposit rating of Caa1/NP. At the same time, the rating agency has assigned a Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of caa2, Adjusted BCA of b3, as well as long-term […]
By John Lee. Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the Iraqi Government's long-term issuer and foreign currency senior unsecured ratings at Caa1, and maintained the stable outlook. It notes Iraq's exceptionally high reliance on oil, and "very weak institutions and governance", while adding that ongoing discussions with the IMF indicate a possibility of a supported adjustment […]
By John Lee. Moody's Investors Service has said that Iraq's credit profile (issuer rating Caa1) "is supported by the country's 'ba2' economic strength ... its 'caa3' institutions and governance strength ... its 'ba3' fiscal strength ... and its 'caa' susceptibility to event risk". The company made the announcement on Monday following its periodic review of […]
By John Lee. Moody's Investors Service has said that Iraq's credit profile of Caa1 is supported by the country's "ba2" economic strength, reflecting, "the balance of strong growth potential associated with large natural resource endowment against low competitiveness and the significant loss of productive capacity and infrastructure after many years of armed conflict". More here. […]
By John Lee. Iraq's (Caa1 stable) credit challenges include very weak institutions and governance that limit policy effectiveness, constrain the government's capacity to respond to external and domestic shocks and weigh on economic competitiveness, Moody's Investors Service said in a report this week. It says last year's improvement in the fiscal and external balances was […]
By John Lee. Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the Government of Iraq's long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings at Caa1 and maintained the stable outlook. The decision to affirm Iraq's Caa1 ratings reflects credit challenges posed by very weak institutions and governance that in Moody's view, will continue to limit policy effectiveness, constrain the government's […]
By John Lee. GDP growth in Iraq is expected to hit 4.1 percent in 2019, up from 2.8 percent this year, acccording to data from Moody's. The gain is based on an expectation of oil prices averaging $75 per barrel, and would be the highest level since 2016’s 13.1 percent expansion. The National quotes the […]
By John Lee. Reuters reports that Iraq expects to sell $2 billion in eurobonds in the last quarter of this year, when international aid starts coming in, helping lower its cost of borrowing. Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari (pictured) told the news agency that Iraq expects to receive $600 million in September from the International Monetary […]
By John Lee. Moody's Investors Service has today withdrawn its provisional rating of (P)Caa1 for Government of Iraq's planned USD bond issuance. The issuance rating has been withdrawn following statements made by Iraq's Deputy Finance Minister that the issuance plans have been put on hold. The last rating action was in September 2015 when Moody's […]
