Swiss-based commodities and energy trading house Mercuria Energy Group is moving closer to acquiring a refinery and hundreds of fuel retail stations in Argentina from struggling Brazilian biofuels producer Raízen, according to sources familiar with the talks. Two people with knowledge of the matter said negotiations have advanced significantly, with one noting the transaction could be finalized soon, although risks remain that the deal could still fall through. Another source said a signing may still be w ...

Core Insights - The U.S. has experienced another credit rating downgrade, with Scope Ratings lowering its long-term issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings from AA to AA- due to concerns over fiscal health and governance standards [5][2][4] - The national debt has surpassed $38 trillion, raising alarms about the government's ability to manage its fiscal responsibilities and address structural challenges [2][3] - Scope Ratings predicts that the U.S. public debt-to-GDP ratio could reach 140% by 2030, significantly higher than its peers, driven by persistent deficits and mandatory spending [4][2] Fiscal Health Concerns - The downgrade follows previous credit rating cuts by Moody's and S&P Global, indicating a trend of declining confidence in U.S. fiscal management [5][2] - Critics argue that lawmakers are failing to meet basic fiscal duties, contributing to a lack of predictability in policymaking and increasing the risk of policy missteps [2][3] - Unfunded liabilities from programs like Medicare and Medicaid are compounding the fiscal challenges facing the U.S. government [3] Economic Implications - The sustained deterioration in public finances and governance standards is a primary driver of the recent downgrade, highlighting the need for improved fiscal management [4][5] - The extension of tax cuts and high levels of mandatory spending are limiting budgetary flexibility, which could have long-term implications for economic stability [4][2] - Rising national debt is expected to lead to higher inflation, which has historically eroded purchasing power for Americans [10]