A creditor’s obligation to assess the creditworthiness of a consumer
by Ganado Advocates
23rd April 2024
by FinanceMalta
22nd November 2021
It said that Malta’s rating is supported by high per-capita income levels, a large net external creditor position, and a pre-pandemic record of strong growth and sizeable debt reduction.
“These strengths, are balanced against a large banking sector and the small and highly open nature of the economy, which makes it vulnerable to external developments.”
“The Stable Outlook reflects Fitch’s expectation that GDP growth will recover and that debt will stabilise following the fiscal shock caused by the pandemic, supported by a strong revenue recovery. At the same time, there is continued downside risk from the evolution of the coronavirus and its effect on the tourism sector and public finances, as well as the risk of macroeconomic instability from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) decision to greylist Malta.”
It highlighted Malta’s successful vaccination programme supporting the growth, with a gradual relaxation of containment measures and travel restrictions.
Fitch did however note that although tourist arrivals have recovered, imposition of travel restrictions, in particular by the UK, pose a risk.
Fitch revised the deficit forecast from 11.5% to 8.4%, following an increase in revenue collection. It did however project a wider deficit for 2022 at 6.1%, as it assumed the government will partly make use of a 1.4% of the GDP to deal with the pressure from higher energy prices. “Fiscal downside risks relate to a further intensification of the energy crisis, which might require greater utilisation of the fiscal buffer.”
It anticipated the fiscal balance to further narrow to 4.1% of GDP by 2023, with public debt peaking at 61% of GDP in 2023, “illustrating Malta’s fiscal prudence in pre-pandemic years of strong growth”.
Fitch said that medium-term fiscal risks are present due to a potential introduction of a global minimum tax and pressure on low-tax jurisdictions to raise effective tax rates.
“In addition, the European Commission’s ongoing infringement procedure into Malta’s Citizenship by Direct Investment programme could lead to its termination. The government has already reduced the expected receipts from the programme to €42 million from around €100 million in its 2022 projections,” Fitch stated.
In a statement, the Government welcomed the rating and said, ”The positive certificate that Malta was given by Fitch Ratings is another confirmation of the responsible leadership with which the country’s economy was governed in such delicate moments.”
Source: Malta Today
by Ganado Advocates
23rd April 2024
by Ganado Advocates
5th April 2024
by CSB Group
5th April 2024
by Bank of Valletta
21st March 2024
by Bank of Valletta
18th March 2024
by Ganado Advocates
4th March 2024
by Ganado Advocates
23rd February 2024
by HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c.
19th February 2024
by Bank of Valletta
29th January 2024
by Bank of Valletta
17th January 2024
by CSB Group
12th January 2024
by Ganado Advocates
3rd January 2024
by Ganado Advocates
3rd January 2024
by Ganado Advocates
3rd January 2024
by Bank of Valletta
28th November 2023
by Bank of Valletta
23rd November 2023
by Bank of Valletta
3rd November 2023
by Ganado Advocates
1st November 2023
by Ganado Advocates
1st November 2023
by Ganado Advocates
1st November 2023
by Griffiths + Associates Ltd
31st October 2023
by Ganado Advocates
16th October 2023
by Bank of Valletta
29th September 2023
by Bank of Valletta
31st August 2023
by Bank of Valletta
28th August 2023
by Ganado Advocates
16th August 2023
by Ganado Advocates
16th August 2023
by Ganado Advocates
11th August 2023
by APS Bank plc
31st July 2023
by Ganado Advocates
28th June 2023
by Ganado Advocates
28th June 2023
by Ganado Advocates
28th June 2023
by Ganado Advocates
26th May 2023
by Bank of Valletta
7th May 2023
by Infocredit Group Limited
3rd May 2023
by Bank of Valletta
14th April 2023
by Ganado Advocates
10th April 2023
by CSB Group
14th March 2023
by Ganado Advocates
24th February 2023
by CSB Group
21st February 2023
by Griffiths + Associates Ltd
20th February 2023
by FinanceMalta
14th February 2023
by Bank of Valletta
31st January 2023
by CSB Group
19th January 2023
by Ganado Advocates
13th January 2023
by Ganado Advocates
13th January 2023
by Bank of Valletta
27th December 2022
by Bank of Valletta
21st November 2022
by BNF Bank plc
18th November 2022
by Bank of Valletta
3rd November 2022
by FinanceMalta
28th October 2022
by BNF Bank plc
6th October 2022
by Bank of Valletta
16th September 2022
by Bank of Valletta
2nd September 2022
by CSB Group
31st August 2022
by Bank of Valletta
11th August 2022
by BNF Bank plc
10th August 2022
by Griffiths + Associates Ltd
29th July 2022
by Griffiths + Associates Ltd
25th July 2022
by BNF Bank plc
14th July 2022
by Bank of Valletta
3rd June 2022
by Infocredit Group Limited
19th May 2022
by The Malta Institute of Accountants
13th May 2022
by Griffiths + Associates Ltd
9th May 2022
by Griffiths + Associates Ltd
3rd May 2022
by Infocredit Group Limited
28th April 2022
by Infocredit Group Limited
8th April 2022
by Infocredit Group Limited
8th April 2022
by Ganado Advocates
24th February 2022
by Bank of Valletta
16th February 2022
by BNF Bank plc
12th January 2022
by BNF Bank plc
3rd December 2021
by Western Union Business Solutions
1st November 2021
by FinanceMalta
8th July 2021
by FinanceMalta
8th July 2021
by FinanceMalta
8th July 2021
by Bank of Valletta
28th June 2021
by FinanceMalta
18th June 2021
by Bank of Valletta
1st June 2021
by Bank of Valletta
26th May 2021
by Bank of Valletta
25th May 2021
by Bank of Valletta
18th May 2021
by Bank of Valletta
17th May 2021
by Bank of Valletta
7th May 2021
by FinanceMalta
29th April 2021
by Bank of Valletta
13th April 2021
by Bank of Valletta
18th February 2021
by Western Union Business Solutions
5th February 2021
by FinanceMalta
14th January 2021
by Bank of Valletta
4th January 2021
by Bank of Valletta
21st December 2020
by Bank of Valletta
18th December 2020
by Bank of Valletta
18th December 2020
by Bank of Valletta
30th November 2020
by Bank of Valletta
29th September 2020
by Infocredit Group Limited
23rd September 2020
by Bank of Valletta
14th September 2020
by Bank of Valletta
14th September 2020
by Bank of Valletta
2nd September 2020
by Bank of Valletta
19th August 2020
by APS Bank plc
3rd August 2020
by Bank of Valletta
31st July 2020
by Bank of Valletta
31st July 2020
by Ganado Advocates
17th July 2020
by FinanceMalta
10th June 2020