Germany Said to Keep AAA Rating as France, Austria Risk Cut

Germany will keep its AAA rating at Standard & Poor’s as France and Austria face downgrades on concern about Europe’s sovereign debt crisis, according to government officials and people familiar with the matter.

France will lose its AAA rating for the first time, Agence France-Presse reported, citing an unidentified government official. Italy and top-rated Austria will also be downgraded, according to two people familiar with the situation. A European official said the announcement may come at 9 p.m. Brussels time.