Investors enjoyed one of the most successful years for the world’s stocks in the last twenty years, but now persistent concerns about sovereign and related debt from the Middle East and Latin America will keep them busy into 2010.  Going into the holiday season, investors must be aware of credit rating downgrades and their effect on asset prices, as thin liquidity aggravates market movement.   

Two credit agencies downgraded Greece because of concerns over its fiscal health. Standard & Poor’s cut Mexico’s credit rating by one notch this week.  Britain’s economic and fiscal health continues to worry investors as the Sterling hit a two month low against the dollar this week. Bob Burnett, head of European Equities and fund manager at Neptune Investment Management said “Government spending has been the major driver of global growth in 2009, and the capital markets’ challenge to this is a concern.”