Feb 16 (Reuters) - Fitch Ratings Inc:
* FITCH UPGRADES GREECE TO ‘B’ FROM ‘B-‘; OUTLOOK POSITIVE
* FITCH SAYS GREECE’S GENERAL GOVERNMENT DEBT SUSTAINABILITY WILL IMPROVE, UNDERPINNED BY SUSTAINED GDP GROWTH, REDUCED POLITICAL RISKS
* FITCH SAYS EXPECT EUROGROUP TO GRANT FURTHER DEBT RELIEF TO GREECE THIS YEAR
* FITCH-GREECE’S POSITIVE OUTLOOK REFLECTS EXPECTATION THAT ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMME’S FOURTH REVIEW TO BE CONCLUDED WITHOUT CREATING INSTABILITY BY AUG 2018
* FITCH SAYS GREECE CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS RESUMPTION OF REGULAR BOND ISSUANCE
* FITCH SAYS IT THINKS BOTH GREECE AND OFFICIAL SECTOR CREDITORS WILL AIM FOR A HYBRID “CLEAN” EXIT FROM EUR 86 BILLION ESM PROGRAM IN AUG 2018
* FITCH SAYS EXPECT GREECE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO ISSUE MARKET DEBT AND USE PROCEEDS TO SMOOTH FURTHER MATURITY PROFILE
* FITCH SAYS EXPECT GREECE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO ISSUE MARKET DEBT, USE PROCEEDS TO ALSO BUILD A SIZEABLE DEPOSIT BUFFER BEFORE END OF ESM PROGRAMME
* FITCH SAYS GREECE’S “POLITICAL BACKDROP HAS BECOME MORE STABLE”
* FITCH ON GREECE SAYS EXPECTS THAT AT LEAST PART OF UNUSED FUNDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT TRANSITION TOWARDS FULL MARKET ACCESS
* FITCH SAYS GREECE’S BANKING SECTOR CONTINUES TO FACE CHALLENGES
* FITCH SAYS PENT-UP INVESTMENT DEMAND, DECLINING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, CONTINUED CLEARANCE OF GOVERNMENT ARREARS ARE SET TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC DEMAND IN GREECE
* FITCH - KEY CHALLENGE FOR GREEK BANKS IS TACKLING NON-PERFORMING EXPOSURES; ASSET QUALITY MAY CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, BUT EXECUTION RISKS STILL SIGNIFICANT
* FITCH SAYS EXPECT GREECE’S DEPOSIT GROWTH TO CONTINUE, ALTHOUGH RETURN OF DEPOSITS WILL CONTINUE TO BE HAMPERED BY HIGH FISCAL BURDEN Source text for Eikon:
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