March 26 (Reuters) - S&P
* S&P SAYS OMAN DOWNGRADED TO ‘BB-‘ ON HIGHER EXTERNAL RISKS & INDEBTEDNESS; OUTLOOK NEGATIVE
* S&P SAYS SHARP DROP IN OIL PRICES IN 2020 WILL INTENSIFY OMAN’S FISCAL, EXTERNAL PRESSURES, LEADING TO FASTER DETERIORATION IN GOVERNMENT’S BALANCE SHEET
* S&P SAYS LARGE UPCOMING EXTERNAL DEBT MATURITIES IN 2021-2022, ALONG WITH HIGH FISCAL DEFICITS, COULD RAISE OMAN’S FUNDING PRESSURES & BORROWING COSTS
* S&P SAYS NEGATIVE OUTLOOK REFLECTS RISK DESPITE OMAN’S MEDIUM-TERM FISCAL CONSOLIDATION PLANS, IMPLEMENTATION COULD BE INSUFFICIENT TO STEM RISE IN DEBT
* S&P SAYS REVISED TRANSFER & CONVERTIBILITY ASSESSMENT ON OMAN TO ‘BB’ FROM ‘BB+’
* S&P SAYS OMAN'S DEBT STRUCTURE IS VULNERABLE TO SHARP DECLINE IN FOREIGN INVESTOR SENTIMENT AT TIME OF UNCERTAINTY PARTLY TRIGGERED BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC Source text: bit.ly/2UkND4T
