LONDON -- Standard&Poor's 5/20/96 -- Standard&Poor's today has assigned its double-`B' long-term rating to the United Mexican States (UMS) 10-year Y100 billion Samurai bond to be sold on June 6. The bond, priced at par, has a 6.75% coupon. The rating outlook is negative. The ratings and outlook on Mexico's debt balance reflect the success of its short-term stabilization program with the medium-term challenge of achieving steady growth and deepening structural reform. The economy is recovering gradually, and inflation, at 2.8% in April 1996, has been generally in line with expectations. Fiscal policy remains cautious, with the public sector likely to stay in broad balance this year. On the external side, export growth remains strong at
