Traders Ignore S&P Decision to Cut Netherlands Credit Rating

The Netherlands lost its top rating at Standard & Poor’s amid weakening economic growth prospects while Spain’s outlook was raised, decisions that were largely ignored by bond investors.

The Netherlands was cut to AA+ from AAA, leaving Germany, Finland and Luxembourg as the only euro-area countries with a AAA rating at the three main ratings companies. Of those, only Finland has a stable AAA rating with all three companies. S&P said its view of Spain, which has a BBB- rating, improved as growth “gradually” resumes.