$10 billion could follow. Ratings agencies welcomed the deal, with Fitch hinting at a possible upgrade of Russia. "The Paris Club deal adds to upward pressure on Russia's creditworthiness," said Edward Parker, Fitch's senior director of sovereign ratings in London. "It would reduce outstanding public debt and debt service payments and help to reduce the upward pressure on the exchange rate, compared with the government spending the money that is burning a hole in its pocket." --More 2129 Local Time 1829 GMT
