Ratings agency Fitch hasput the US AAA credit rating under review for a downgrade as the deadline toraise the US borrowing limit draws closer.

评级机构惠誉已经把美国AAA主权信用评级列入负面观察名单，作为最后提高美国拉近借款限额的期限。

TheUS must raise its $16.7tn (?10.5tn) debt limit by Thursday or risk default.

美国必须在周四前提高债务到16.7万亿美元(?10.5万亿)，否则会有违约风险。

"The[Fitch] announcement reflects the urgency with which Congress should act toremove the threat of default hanging over the economy," said US Treasuryspokeswoman Brandi Hoffine.

惠誉表示，将美国主权信用评级列入负面观察名单主要是由于美国迟迟未能上调债务上限。美国财政部长此前表示，为避免债务违约所采取的非常规措施只能维持到10月17日，届时财政部将仅有约300亿美元资金，难以维持联邦政府正常运营。

While Fitch said it expected the debt limit to be raisedsoon, it added that "political brinkmanship" and "reducedfinancing flexibility could increase the risk of a US default".

虽然惠誉相信美国债务上限很快就会提高，但是政治分歧和金融灵活性的下降可能会增加美国政府违约的风险。如果无法及时提高债务上限，将对美国的信誉和经济造成冲击。

During a previous fiscal standoff on Capitol Hill in 2011,another credit rating agency, Standard & Poor's, downgraded the US ratingfrom AAA to AA+.

2011年8月，评级机构标准普尔曾宣布将美国主权信用评级由“AAA”下调一档至“AA＋”。这是美国历史上首次遭到主权信用降级。

As the House bill faltered,Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate announced on Tuesday eveningthat they were reopening talks.

众议院法案摇摇欲坠,民主党和共和党在参议院领导人周二晚间宣布,他们重开谈判。