Standard & Poor's downgrades India's credit outlook to negative

PanARMENIAN.Net - Standard & Poor's on Wednesday, April 25 downgraded India's credit outlook to negative as a weakening economy and gaping fiscal deficit put the country's prized investment-grade rating at risk, AFP reports.

The agency maintained India's rating at BBB-, but warned it faces at least a one-in-three chance of losing its status if its financial situation worsens.

The "BBB-" is one notch above "junk," which carries an increased risk of default and would see India having to pay higher interest rates on its public borrowing.

"India's investment and economic growth have slowed and its current-account deficit has widened, resulting in a weaker medium-term credit outlook," S&P credit analyst Takahira Ogawa said in a media conference call.

"We are revising the outlook on the long-term ratings on India to negative."

Asia's third-largest economy is battling stubborn inflation, the widest budget deficit of all major emerging economies, a weak fiscal position and slower growth on the domestic front.

S&P's negative outlook came as Moody's Analytics, part of credit analysis giant Moody's Corp, said India's economy was growing well below potential.