BRIEF-Fitch Upgrades Oman To 'BBB-'; Outlook Stable

BY Reuters | CORPORATE | 07:17 AM EST

Dec 8 (Reuters) - Fitch:

* FITCH UPGRADES OMAN TO 'BBB-'; OUTLOOK STABLE

* FITCH: UPGRADE REFLECTS SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT IN OMAN'S PUBLIC AND EXTERNAL BALANCE SHEETS

* FITCH: UPGRADE REFLECTS FITCH'S GREATER CONFIDENCE THAT OMAN WILL MAINTAIN A PRUDENT POLICY STANCE IN A LOWER OIL PRICE ENVIRONMENT

* FITCH: EXPECT OMAN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE TO DIVEST FROM SOME HOLDINGS, ALTHOUGH SCALE WILL BE SMALLER THAN IN RECENT YEARS Source text:

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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