Foreign exchange market reactions to sovereign credit news

Rasha Alsakka and Owain ap Gwilym

Journal of International Money and Finance, 2012, vol. 31, issue 4, 845-864

Abstract: We analyse the reaction of the foreign exchange spot market to sovereign credit signals by Fitch, Moody’s and S&P during 1994–2010. We find that positive and negative credit news affects both the own-country exchange rate and other countries’ exchange rates. We provide evidence on unequal responses to the three agencies’ signals. Fitch signals induce the most timely market responses, and the market also reacts strongly to S&P negative outlook signals. Credit outlook and watch actions and multiple notch rating changes have more impact than one-notch rating changes. Considerable differences in the market reactions to sovereign credit events are highlighted in emerging versus developed economies, and in various geographical regions.

Keywords: Foreign exchange market; Emerging economies; Sovereign credit signal; Regional spillover effect; Credit outlook/watch (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F31 G15 G24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (40)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jimfin:v:31:y:2012:i:4:p:845-864

DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2012.01.007

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