S&P can announce Europe downgrades Friday

The Standard & Poor's ratings agency could announce the downgrades in the credit ratings of a number of European governments as early as Friday, said people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports.

One person familiar with the matter said an S&P notice is being circulated among euro-zone governments and that an announcement "could be imminent."

S&P declined to comment on the possibility of an imminent announcement on euro-zone credit ratings.

In December, S&P placed 15 of the 17 euro-zone countries on watch for possible downgrade, citing new systemic stresses that are pressuring the euro zone's credit standing as a whole, the magazine informs.