Fitch puts US credit rating on negative watch

Fitch Ratings placed U.S. credit on negative watch Tuesday, sending a message to lawmakers that the nation’s debt limit must be raised soon to maintain the nation’s AAA credit rating.

The ratings agency faulted the country’s “political brinkmanship” for the possible downgrade, even though it believes that the debt ceiling will be raised in time to avert a default. The Treasury’s use of accounting maneuvers to create room under the debt ceiling, it warned, has increased the risk of a default.