Ratings On The United Kingdom Lowered To 'AA' On Brexit Vote; Outlook Remains Negative On Continued Uncertainty

OVERVIEW In the nationwide referendum on the U.K.?s membership of the European Union (EU), the majority of the electorate voted to leave the EU. In our opinion, this outcome is a seminal event, and will lead to a less predictable, stable, and effective policy framework in the U.K. We have reassessed our view of the U.K.'s institutional assessment and now no longer consider it a strength in our assessment of the rating. The downgrade also reflects the risks of a marked deterioration of external financing conditions in light of the U.K.?s extremely elevated level of gross external financing requirements. The vote for ?remain? in Scotland and Northern Ireland also creates wider constitutional issues for the country as a whole. Consequently,

...OVERVIEW In the nationwide referendum on the U.K.'s membership of the European Union (EU), + the majority of the electorate voted to leave the EU. In our opinion, this outcome is a seminal event, and will lead to a less predictable, stable, and effective policy framework in the U.K. We have reassessed our view of the U.K.'s institutional assessment and now no longer consider it a strength in our assessment of the rating. The downgrade also reflects the risks of a marked deterioration of external + financing conditions in light of the U.K.'s extremely elevated level of gross external financing requirements. The vote for "remain" in Scotland and Northern Ireland also creates wider + constitutional issues for the country as a whole. Consequently, we are lowering our long-term sovereign credit ratings on the U.K. + by two notches to '##' from '###'. The negative outlook reflects the risk to economic prospects, fiscal and external + performance, and the role of sterling as a reserve currency,...

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