10.1111/fima.12223">
 

Measuring sovereign risk: Are CDS spreads better than sovereign credit ratings?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2019

Department/School

Accounting and Finance

Publication Title

Financial Management

Abstract

Using data for 54 countries over a 12-year period, we find that the variation in average sovereign ratings in a given year can be explained by average credit default swap (CDS) spreads over the previous three years. In a horse race between CDS spreads and sovereign ratings, we find that CDS spread changes can predict sovereign events, while rating changes cannot. The predictability of CDS spreads is greater when there is disagreement between Moody's and the S&P for a country's rating.

Link to Published Version

10.1111/fima.12223

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