Major French banks could face a new week of turmoil, as Moody's may downgrade ratings of BNP Paribas, Société Générale and Crédit Agricole because of exposure to the debt crisis in Greece, said sources close to the situation, quoted by Wall Street Journal.
A demotion is expected after Moody's placed under surveillance for a possible fall, marks the three banks on 15 June, and within three months, the bank usually ends his analysis, is coming to an end, sources said.

Possible relegation could fuel fears about how one nine European banks would suffer worsening crisis in the euro area sovereign debt.

In July, the euro area credit institutions had to reduce the value of bond portfolios Greek, part of a larger plan to support Greece. At that time, French banks have announced that their exposure is small and well distributed Greece.

In August, investors grew concerned that European banks such massive losses if other states would need financial aujtor. In addition to Greece, Portugal and Iralnda received financial support packages, while the European Central Bank helps Italy and Spain to borrow at sustainable costs.

"The impact of a demotion can not be positive," said Nicolas Veron, an economist at Bruegel research center in Brussels. Veron has warned, however, that the markets have been affected in recent months more powerful politicians and heads of central banks' comments than the decisions of rating agencies.

WSJ was unable to contact representatives of BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole.

A downgrade by Moody's was not a surprise and would not change the perception of the French government on the country's banking system stability, said one of the sources cited.

In June, Moody's warned it might downgrade BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole one step, while Societe Generale rating is looked for a possible downward revision of two steps.

Decision Moody's should not affect costs to which borrows the three banks, said sources, as now, the agency assigned to institutions rated slightly higher than rivals Fitch or Standard & Poor's, and investors are moving, the obiceri, after the lowest rating.

French bank shares were hit by turbulence in the stock lately, Societe Generale was hit hardest. The bank lost almost half the market from 1 August and 48%, while Crédit Agricole titles fell by 35% and BNP Paribas by 32%.