Global ratings agency Fitch yesterday cut its 2012 growth outlook for Asia to 6.8 per cent from 7.4 per cent previously, citing the weak global economy.

For 2011, the region is seen growing at 7.1 per cent, it said in a statement.

The downgrade was also to reflect the impact of policy tightening measures in some of the region’s economies, notably China and India where taming high inflation has been a major government priority, Fitch said.

It expects China’s economy, the world’s second biggest, to grow 8.2 per cent next year instead of the 8.5 per cent forecast in June, while it tipped India to expand 7.5 per cent in the year to March 2013, instead of 8.2 per cent previously estimated.