Standard & Poor's reduced the rating of a number of large Russian companies

The international rating agency Standard & Poor's changed the forecast of long -term credit ratings of Russian companies Gazprom, Lukoil, Rosneft, Transneft and Russian Railways with the Stable Negative.

In addition, the forecast for the rating of the "daughter" of Russian Railways - "Federal Passenger Company" was worsened.

Such a decision was made in connection with a deterioration to a negative forecast for the sovereign rating of Russia on March 20 in connection with the possible consequences of sanctions by the United States and the European Union. "Increased geopolitical risks and sanctions for the annexation of Crimea can lead to a decrease in potential investments, increase capital outflow and additionally weaken the already worsening economic indicators," says Standard & Poors's.

For the same reason, on March 25, another rating agency Fitch lowered to a “negative” forecast for ratings of 15 Russian banks and 9 companies.