Standard & Poor's lowered Jordan's long-term credit rating on Monday by one notch to 'BB-' with a negative outlook due in part to the conflict in neighbouring Syria. "The downgrade results from our view of Jordan's weakened external and fiscal profiles in the wake of reduced foreign grants and weaker terms of trade in 2011 and 2012," said S&P in a statement. It noted that foreign grants fell to 1.5 percent of the country's total economic output -- the lowest in over a decade -- from 5.9 percent in 2011.

Fitch Ratings raised Greece's long-term credit rating by one notch to 'B-' on Tuesday, removing it from being at risk of default, citing progress in balancing the country's finances and improving its trade competitiveness. "The Greek economy is rebalancing: clear progress has been made towards eliminating twin fiscal and current account deficits..." said Fitch, adding that its outlook was stable. rl/wai

Fitch Ratings upgraded Mexico's sovereign credit rating on Wednesday, citing what it called the country's strong economic fundamentals and commitment to structural reforms. The international ratings agency increased Mexico's credit score by one notch to BBB+ from BBB and stated that its rating outlook was stable. "The upgrade of Mexico's sovereign ratings reflects its strong macroeconomic fundamentals, including the absence of macro-financial imbalances, consistent adherence to its inflation targeting and flexible exchange rate regimes," Fitch said in a statement.

Slovenia has raised 3.5 billion dollars (2.7 billion euros) in a successful bond sale, two days after Moody's downgraded the eurozone country's rating to "junk", the finance ministry said on Friday. The country sold 2.5 billion dollars in 10-year dollar-denominated bonds at an average interest rate of 6.00 percent, and 1.0 billion dollars in five-year bonds at 4.95 percent, the ministry said.