By Inti Landauro
PARIS--French Finance Minister Michel Sapin Friday said he wants
the country's market regulator to open an investigation into a
newspaper report that said Moody's Investors Service Inc. had told
the French government about an imminent change in France's credit
rating.
French newspaper L'Opinion Thursday reported that Moody's had
given the French government notice about a possible downgrade of
its credit rating to AA2 from AA1.
"That affirmation had an impact on the markets," Mr. Sapin said
Friday.
Luc de Barochez, L'Opinion's web chief editor, declined to
comment. A spokesman for Moody's did not have an immediate
comment.
In January, Moody's placed France's rating on negative outlook
due to falling competitiveness as well as the risk of further
deterioration in the financial strength of the government.
Noemie Bisserbe in Paris contributed to this article
Write to Inti Landauro at inti.landauro@wsj.com