Moody's cuts outlook on Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg

BRUSSELS, Jul 23, 2012 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Moody's Investors Service lateMonday lowered its outlook on top-rated Germany, the Netherlandsand Luxembourg to negative from stable, citing increasinguncertainties about the euro debt crisis as a whole.

The rating agency said its decision is also based on thegrowing risk of a Greek exit from the euro, which would set off "achain of financial sector shocks" and it is the single currency'stop-rated states who are going to share the burden of support.

In the meantime, Moody's affirmed Finland's AAA rating andstable outlook, citing the country's small and domesticallyoriented banking system and its limited trade links with the restof the euro area.