S&P downgrades Russian credit rating to 'junk' status

(Image credit: Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)

Standard & Poor's on Monday cut Russia's credit rating to junk status, the first time in a decade it has done so. The downgrade reflects the global plummet in oil prices, Western sanctions on Russia, and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Those factors caused the ruble to nosedive last year, placing Russia on the brink of recession.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.