DUBLIN — Alarming financial news flowed out of Europe in a torrent Friday, just a week after the EU leaders struck a deal they thought would contain the continent’s debt crisis.
The bombardment shredded hopes of a lasting solution to the turmoil that is endangering the euro — the currency used by 17 European nations — and threatening the entire global economy.
In quick succession:
• The Fitch Ratings agency announced it was considering further cuts to the credit scores of six eurozone nations — heavyweights Italy and Spain, as well as Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland and Slovenia. It said all six could face downgrades of one or two notches.
• Moody’s Investors Services downgraded Belgium’s credit rating by two notches. Belgium’s local- and foreign- currency government bond ratings fell to “Aa3″ from Aa1,” with a negative outlook. The ratings remain investment-grade.
• Ireland’s economy shrank again much deeper than had been expected, with its third-quarter gross domestic product falling 1.9 percent. Ireland is one of three eurozone nations kept solvent only by an international bailout.
• Bankers and hedge funds were balking in talks about forgiving 50 percent of Greece’s massive debts.
• The red ink in Spain’s regional governments surged 22 percent in the past year, endangering the central government’s efforts to cut debt.
• France, the second-largest eurozone economy after Germany, warned that it faced at least a temporary recession next year.
