Government Liquid Assets And Sovereign Ratings: Size Matters

A large stock of liquid government assets can provide substantial support to a sovereign rating we assign. Our sovereign ratings encompass numerous factors, some of which can offset even vast amounts of wealth. However, when government assets exceed 100% of GDP, the positive effects are visible throughout our analysis, and this is currently the case for only seven sovereigns we rate. Topping that group is Kuwait, followed by Norway and Abu Dhabi (see chart). Of course, governments can use these assets to repay their financial obligations, but S&P Global Ratings believes they also provide substantial buffers during periods of economic or financial shocks. What we consider part of a sovereign's stock of liquid financial assets comprises government deposits in financial

...August 27, 2018 A large stock of liquid government assets can provide substantial support to a sovereign rating we assign. Our sovereign ratings encompass numerous factors, some of which can offset even vast amounts of wealth. However, when government assets exceed 100% of GDP, the positive effects are visible throughout our analysis, and this is currently the case for only seven sovereigns we rate. Topping that group is Kuwait, followed by Norway and Abu Dhabi (see chart). Of course, governments can use these assets to repay their financial obligations, but S&P Global Ratings believes they also provide substantial buffers during periods of economic or financial shocks....

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