Gazprom given top rating from Dagong

Analysts suggest gas deal with China may have influenced credit agency's decision

Dagong Global Credit Rating Co Ltd on Monday assigned an AAA rating with a stable outlook to Russian natural gas giant OAO Gazprom, despite falling oil prices, the volatile rouble and simmering tension between Europe and Russia.

The move by Dagong, a major Chinese ratings agency, puts Gazprom above the "sovereign ceiling", different from a convention observed by credit agencies that in most situations ranks private-sector debt issuers below their home government.