S&P Global: global sovereign debt to jump to $50 trillion in 2019

S&P Global ratings agency forecast that another jump in borrowing by governments will take the global mountain of sovereign debt to $50 trillion in 2019.

The firm predicted sovereigns will borrow an equivalent of $7.78 trillion this year, which would be up 3.2% on 2018.

"Some 70%, or $5.5 trillion, of sovereigns' gross borrowing will be to refinance maturing long-term debt, resulting in an estimated net borrowing requirement of about $2.3 trillion, or 2.6% of the GDP of rated sovereigns," S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Karen Vartapetov said.

The rise in the total debt stock to $50 trillion would be a 6% rise on last year having been partly exacerbated by exchange rate swings, Reuters reported.