Mixed recent results from Europe’s leading car makers have done little to shift the negative credit outlook for the auto sector despite encouraging trends among some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The methodology is now final following a call-for-comments period and will apply to all issuer and debt ratings of corporates in the sector. The application of the updated methodology will not trigger any rating changes.

The methodology is now final following a call-for-comments period and will apply to all issuer and debt ratings of European real estate corporates. No impact is expected on outstanding issuer and debt ratings.

UK bank profitability will remain sound in 2025. Asset quality is weakening modestly but remains resilient, capital is adequate and deposit outflows have reversed. The stable outlooks on our UK bank ratings indicate that risks are broadly balanced.

Bolt-on acquisitions and investments will improve the group’s diversification and consolidate its pan-European market position, but transformational deals remain complex and subject to political barriers.

With inflation under control, Bulgaria is on track to adopt the euro in January 2026, a development which would support the stability of the highly euroised economy, improve monetary-policy flexibility and enhance the sovereign’s capital-market access.

Scope Ratings has published an update to its Supranational Rating Methodology, with non-material changes. No outstanding ratings are impacted.

Portugal likely faces another minority government after an inconclusive snap parliamentary election which risks complicating policy making, including fiscal and economic reforms.

Italian banks are among the most profitable in Europe and the outlook is favourable, even if we anticipate lower profits in coming quarters. M&A may reshape the sector, though execution risks are rising.

Without substantive corrective fiscal measures, the US public debt ratio will reach 133% of GDP by 2030, exceeding our forecasts for France (122%) and the UK (111%), while interest payments will average 12% of revenues, at least twice that of peers.