S&P reaffirms AAA rating for Netherlands but says rating's outlook still negative

NEW YORK – Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has affirmed its top investment-grade rating for the Netherlands but says the rating's outlook remains negative.

The agency said Monday that the Netherland's prosperous, diversified and competitive economy is worthy of the "AAA" credit rating. It noted that the Dutch have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the European Union at 5.6 percent.

However, the rating agency said that broader global economic pressures could weight on the Dutch financial sector and its overall economy. A negative outlook suggests the country's rating could be downgraded in the future.