Australia avoids immediate sovereign downgrade following mid-year update

S&P Global Ratings (S&P) stayed its hand on Australia's sovereign rating following the release of the Commonwealth's mid-year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO) on December 19. The rating agency maintains the negative outlook on Australia's triple-A rating, while both Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) and Fitch Ratings (Fitch) are retaining stable triple-A ratings on the Australia sovereign.