S&P downgrades Spain by one notch to AA- on weak growth outlook

Ratings agency Standard and Poor's downgraded the long-term credit rating of Spain by one notch to AA- from AA with a negative outlook, due to weak growth, tightening fiscal conditions and high private sector debt.[caption id="attachment_107365" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Reuters"][/caption]"Despite signs of resilience in economic performance during 2011, we see heightened risks to Spain's growth prospects due to high unemployment, tighter financial conditions, the still high level of private sector debt, and the likely economic slowdown in Spain's main trading partners," S&P said in a statement.It added it expected continuing deterioration in financial system asset quality while the incomplete state of labour market reform will contribute to structurally high unemployment that will be drag on economic recovery.