Moody’s Investors Service to raise the credit ratings outlook for Latvia and Lithuania, as their economies recovered faster than expected. Baa1 rating to the prospect of Lithuania was upgraded to stable from negative, and also that of Latvia, but rating Baa3. Credit rating agencies increase the prospects for regional stability signals and actions of governments to address the budget deficit. Over the past two months by Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings raised its outlook for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stable from negative. “The Lithuanian economy is stabilized faster than expected and those of other Baltic countries,” said Kenneth Orchard, an analyst at Moody’s. According to him the recession ended in the third quarter of last year and this will have a moderate positive effect on the finances of the Government, expressed in a smaller budget deficit and slower growth of debt. In Latvia, the “worst of the recession has passed and will support the restoration of Finance of the Government and the banking sector,” said Orchard. “The prospect of a disorderly devaluation of the currency is now unlikely.” Latvia requested assistance from the EU and the International Monetary Fund amounting to 7.5 billion in 2008, having acquired its second largest bank. In the fourth quarter of the country’s economy contracted by 16.9 per cent.
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The Crude Oil prices rose significantly yesterday, which brought the quotations to their highest level in 17 months. Major role played this retreat of the dollar, which yesterday fell 0.7 percent against the euro. The decline in dollar gaining strength and now March 25 dollar index has lost 1.3 percent of its value. This triggers an increased interest in investing in raw materials and helps the price of oil. Yesterday in New York oil price with delivery in May rose 1.7 percent to 83.76 dollars a barrel. So quotations have reached their highest level since October 9, 2008 to date. In times of e-commerce and optimism was chilled with black gold retreated 0.4 percent to 83.43 dollars a barrel. This is mainly due to the surprise drop in U.S. jobs last month, and the unexpectedly high growth of oil stocks in the U.S. economy. Tomorrow the stock exchange in New York there will be no trading session, as the Christian world prepares to meet on Easter. Exchange in London yesterday of Brent oil rose 1.8 percent to 82.70 dollars a barrel.
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