March 8 (Reuters) - Fitch:
* FITCH SAYS COVID-19 ADDS PRESSURE TO AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND BANK EARNINGS
* FITCH SAYS AUSTRALIAN BANKS LIKELY TO FACE FURTHER CHALLENGES TO EARNINGS IN 2020 DUE TO CASH RATE CUTS
* FITCH-OUTBREAK WOULD INCREASE RISK OF BROAD DETERIORATION IN ASSET QUALITY FOR AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND BANKS REFLECTING SLOWING GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH
* FITCH SAYS ALSO HAS A NEGATIVE SECTOR OUTLOOK FOR AUSTRALIAN BANKING SYSTEM
* FITCH SAYS COVID-19 OUTBREAK POSES MODEST DIRECT ASSET QUALITY PRESSURE TO AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND BANKS IN NEAR TERM
* FITCH SAYS BELIEVES MAJOR BANKS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ARE WELL-CAPITALISED TO WITHSTAND ANY POTENTIAL IMPACT FROM OUTBREAK IN SHORT TERM