Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Fitch Ratings today lowered its ratings of Irish banks' Government-guaranteed senior unsecured notes to AA- from AA+.

Fitch also affirmed the Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of Allied Irish Banks, Anglo Irish Bank, and Bank of Ireland at A-. The agency affirmed EBS Building Society and Irish Nationwide Building Society's long-term IDRs and support rating floors at BBB-.