Bangkok--25 Jun--Standard & Poor's Uncomfortably high inflationary pressures remain a key short-term risk for Asia-Pacific, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said in a report titled "Asia-Pacific Sovereign Report Card: Stability Predominates But Macroeconomic Headaches Remain Intense". The report examines the credit profiles of rated Asia-Pacific sovereigns and looks at the main risks and challenges facing the region in the near term. While the general credit outlook for most sovereigns is stable, inflationary pressures and tightening credit conditions will test the region--particularly the more vulnerable countries such as Pakistan and Vietnam. "The effects of tightening credit and liquidity are still being felt--more sharply by some countries than others," said Standard & Poor's sovereign analyst Kyran Curry. "And we also have the headaches of steeply rising oil and food prices, and structural capacity constraints in energy, infrastructure, and labor supply. These are all contributing to a less-than-ideal picture as policymakers continue to try to balance short-term growth targets against longer term structural and inflationary challenges." The reports are available to subscribers of RatingsDirect, the real-time Web-based source for Standard & Poor's credit ratings, research, and risk analysis, at www.ratingsdirect.com. If you are not a RatingsDirect subscriber, you may purchase a copy of the report by calling (1) 212-438-9823 or sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Ratings information can also be found on Standard & Poor's public Web site at www.standardandpoors.com; under Credit Ratings in the left navigation bar, select Find a Rating, then Credit Ratings Search. Members of the media may request copies of these reports by contacting the media representative provided. Ratings are statements of opinion, not statements of fact or recommendations to buy, hold, or sell any securities. Standard & Poor's (Australia) Pty. Ltd. does not hold an Australian financial services license under the Corporations Act 2001. Any rating and the information contained in any research report published by Standard & Poor's is of a general nature. It has been prepared without taking into account any recipient's particular financial needs, circumstances, and objectives. Therefore, a recipient should assess the appropriateness of such information to it before making an investment decision based on this information. Media Contact: David Wargin, New York (212) 438-1579 [email protected] Analyst Contacts: Kyran Curry, Melbourne (61) 3-9631-2082 Lisa Coory, Hong Kong (852) 2533-3520