S&P: Canada 'AAA/A-1+' ratings affirmed; outlook remains stable

The S&P Ratings has recently announced that it affirmed Canada's sovereign rating at 'AAA/A+1' and maintained its outlook at 'stable'.

Key takeaways from the press release (via Reuters)

• Stable outlook reflects expectation of moderate GDP growth, prudent fiscal stance, and a gradually cooling housing market.
• High wealth, economic resilience, ample fiscal and monetary buffers should enable Canada to adjust to changing global economic conditions.
• Cross-border production chains and investment should remain largely intact, regardless of developments related to proposed USMCA.
• Small total deficits and large general government liquid assets will keep Canada's net general government debt burden fairly low.
• Canada maintains a strong external position, which could help soften the impact of potential domestic shocks.
• Expects provincial housing policies, rising interest rates to work in unison to ease Toronto, Vancouver housing markets imbalances.
• Announcement by GM to not allocate any production to Ontario-based Oshawa plant in 2019 to partly weigh on growth prospects.