Fitch revises Serbia's outlook to negative; affirms BB

NEW YORK: Fitch Ratings on Thursday revised Serbia's outlook to negative from stable, citing the country's weakening fiscal position and expectations for lackluster growth.

The rating agency also affirmed Serbia's BB-minus long-term foreign and local currency ratings.

"The negative outlook reflects the deterioration in the country's fiscal and external financing position and weak economic growth outlook," Fitch said in a statement.

"Rather than focusing on correcting a rising fiscal deficit and public debt ratio, the new government has amended the central bank law in a manner which has dented investor confidence and might complicate the agreement of a new IMF deal."

Standard & Poor's rates Serbia BB-minus with a negative outlook.