French AAA rating may be downgraded ‘within days’

CREDIT rating agency Standard & Poor’s could change its outlook on France’s AAA rating to negative within days, a French newspaper reported, adding to fears France may lose its position among the top rank of sovereign borrowers.

S&P declined to comment on the report, based on anonymous sources. If true, it would signal that the risk of a downgrade has risen after months of concern about the impact on French public finances of sluggish growth and the costs of the eurozone debt crisis.

Economic and financial daily La Tribune said S&P — which on Friday cut Belgium’s credit rating to AA from AA+ — had planned to make an announcement on France the same day but postponed it for unknown reasons.