S&P cuts Russia's credit rating

S&P said in a statement that they revised Russia's rating because the tense situation “could see additional significant outflows of both domestic and foreign capital from the Russian economy.” File Photo

The Standard & Poor’s credit agency on Friday cut Russia’s credit rating for the first time in more than five years, citing the capital flight and risk to investment in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.

Russia’s economic growth slowed to 0.8 percent in the first quarter — sharply worse than earlier forecast — while spooked investors pulled about $70 billion out of the country in 2013. However, the cut in Russia’s rating from BBB to BBB- is the most tangible economic result of Russia’s policies toward Ukraine so far.

BBB- is just a step above a speculative or non-investment grade.

S&P said in a statement that they revised Russia's rating because the tense situation “could see additional significant outflows of both domestic and foreign capital from the Russian economy.”

Rating agencies had not cut Russia’s sovereign rating since December 2008.

Moscow in March recognized a hastily called referendum in Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and annexed it weeks later, attracting condemnation of the West as well as sanctions targeting individuals. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday warned Moscow that unless it took immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, Washington would impose additional sanctions.

A senior official traveling with President Barack Obama said he is likely to call European leaders on Friday to discuss the possibility of further sanctions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because there had been no official announcement.