Russia: Sovereign Credit Rating Turns Negative

Russia: Sovereign Credit Rating Turns Negative 

Stratfor 20-Mar-14 

Standard & Poor's financial services company has downgraded Russia's credit rating from stable to negative, Itar-Tass reported March 20. The company made its decision based on heightened geopolitical risk and the threat of economic sanctions following Russia's move to assimilate Crimea. However, there is little Washington can sanction that would affect Moscow significantly unless the White House takes the drastic and unlikely step of banning U.S. firms from working with or in Russia.