Fitch: China Growth, Fed Tapering Risks Turn More Urgent in APAC

(The following statement was released by the rating agency) Link to Fitch Ratings' Report: APAC Risk Radar 1Q14 www.fitchratings.com">www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=741617">http://www.fitchratings.com">www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=741617 HONG KONG/LONDON, March 26 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings has given greater urgency to the risks associated with the withdrawal of foreign funding and, to a lesser extent, the risks from a further slowdown in China's economic growth in the Asia-Pacific edition of its Risk Radar for 1Q14. Compared with 3Q13, when the last Risk Radar was issued, the risks associated with funds flowing out of the region have become more urgent as the US Federal Reserve started to gradually withdraw its stimulus in early 2014. A moderate slowdown in growth in Asia-Pacific to sustainable levels, particularly in China, could help reduce the risk of bank systemic stress build-up, especially in economies that experienced rapid credit expansion in the past few years. An abrupt or material slowdown on the other hand, could have negative implications on ratings in the region, although this is not the agency's base case for China or the region as a whole. The Risk Radar report is available at www.fitchratings.com">www.fitchratings.com or by clicking on the link above. Contact: David Wong Senior Director +852 2263 9927 Fitch (Hong Kong) Limited 2801, Tower Two, Lippo Centre 89 Queensway Hong Kong SAR Trevor Pitman Managing Director +44 20 3530 1059 Media Relations: Wai-Lun Wan, Hong Kong, Tel: +852 2263 9935, Email: wailun.wan@fitchratings.com. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com">www.fitchratings.com ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.