financetom
Economy
financetom
/
Economy
/
Ratings agency S&P to review all global forecasts after US tariff shock
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Ratings agency S&P to review all global forecasts after US tariff shock
Apr 4, 2025 4:28 AM

LONDON (Reuters) - Credit ratings giant S&P Global has said it is reviewing all its macro economic forecasts in the wake of Donald Trump's sweeping world trade tariffs this week, a move likely to fuel concerns of a renewed wave of credit score downgrades.

The firm, whose ratings judge the creditworthiness of thousands of companies and more than 130 countries, said the scope and size of U.S. President Trump's new tariffs had exceeded most expectations.

It said it would publish its revised forecasts next week, although initial assumptions include a jump in U.S. inflation that leaves it closer to 4% by the end of the year compared with the 3% it had previously factored in.

The impact on U.S. GDP will depend on the level of retaliation from its trading partners and how the tariff revenues get used, especially if they fund tax cuts, S&P said.

Even in a scenario where there are tax cuts, and there is "relatively modest" retaliation though, GDP growth was still likely to be three-tenths to four-tenths of a percentage point lower than S&P's most recent forecasts.

"We still don't see a NBER-defined recession (depth, duration, and broad dispersion of weakness, not just two consecutive quarters of negative growth) in the next 12 months," its analysts said in a report.

"But we acknowledge that the subjective probability of a recession within that time period has now likely moved up to 30%-35% from 25% in March."

The rest of the world is also likely to see growth forecasts cut.

Large economies such as the euro zone and China are likely to see smaller adjustments, at around one quarter of a percentage point per year, whereas more open economies that trade heavily with the U.S. are likely to see larger revisions.

"This is the case, for example, of Ireland and Switzerland in Europe and the Tiger economies in Asia-Pacific," S&P said.

S&P did not give any predictions of rating moves, but its peer Fitch cut China's rating on Thursday and debt insurance costs have already risen for firms and countries seen as vulnerable on the assumption that there will be a wave of downgrades.

S&P's analysts said they expected other countries to respond to the tariff moves in a number of ways.

Some are likely to target perceived vulnerable U.S. industries and political districts rather than go for blanket tariffs, while some could use non-tariff measures and measures impacting services and goods flows.

"These potential countermeasures would put further downside pressures on growth," S&P said.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
Dollar's dominant reserve currency status to endure, says Morgan Stanley
Dollar's dominant reserve currency status to endure, says Morgan Stanley
Apr 18, 2024
LONDON (Reuters) -The U.S. dollar's dominant reserve currency status is likely to endure partly because even the most talked about alternative the Chinese yuan falls short as a credible challenger, Morgan Stanley said in a report on Thursday. Rivalry with China, Russia's war in Ukraine, wrangling in Washington over the U.S. debt ceiling and rising debt levels have put the...
US economic activity expanded slightly in recent weeks, Fed says
US economic activity expanded slightly in recent weeks, Fed says
Apr 17, 2024
(Reuters) -U.S. economic activity expanded slightly from late February through early April and firms signaled they expect inflation pressures to hold steady, a Federal Reserve survey showed on Wednesday, continuing recent trends that have kept the central bank from being able to cut interest rates. The U.S. central bank released its latest snapshot on the health of the economy a...
Fed to cut US rates 'at some point, but no hurry, Mester says
Fed to cut US rates 'at some point, but no hurry, Mester says
Apr 17, 2024
(Reuters) - Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester said on Wednesday she expects price pressures to ease further this year, allowing the Fed to reduce borrowing costs, but only when it is pretty confident inflation is heading sustainably to its 2% goal. At some point, as we get more confidence, we will start to normalize policy back to a...
US Dollar Ebbs Further as Swedish Krona and Korean Won Lead Global Recovery
US Dollar Ebbs Further as Swedish Krona and Korean Won Lead Global Recovery
Apr 18, 2024
07:18 AM EDT, 04/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Many US dollar pairs extended earlier corrective losses during the European morning on Thursday as the Swedish krona and Korean won led a rebound of G20 currencies going into a busy schedule of central bank speakers. Dollar gains were few and far between with the Japanese yen, Norwegian krone, Chinese renminbi, South African...
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved