Greece 's debt rating lowered to junk status , Portugal and Spain also drops . For governments , the ratings agencies have a lot of power over the popularity of bonds : cash given to governments like Greece by investors that , over time , will pay a return on the original investment -- unless the government defaults . Comment: Critics say the eurozone economies are n't acting fast enough to avert crisis .
Greece 's debt rating lowered to junk status , Portugal and Spain also drops . Comment: Critics say the eurozone economies are n't acting fast enough to avert crisis .