Greece’s credit rating has been upgraded by Standard & Poor’s to a “B-“. The agency called the rating stable — meaning it’s unlikely to change in the next several months.

Still, in Athens, the outcry over austerity continues.

“I think it shows that even though the government is patting itself on the back, and is rather reassured by this upgrade, that confidence has not filtered through to the Greeks here,” says the BBC’s Mark Lowen. 

He thinks sentiment is unlikely to change in the next few months, as protests continue across the country.

“The country still faces a pretty bleak 2013 with a sixth straight year of recession, and debt continuing to soar,” adds Lowen.