S.S.P.

Moody's, S&P's main rival in the ratings business, also maintains a Aaa credit rating - its highest - on the United States.

For these reasons, Standard &Poor's (S&P), a ratings agency, includes NAMA's costs in its estimate of Ireland's public debt.

Due to past practices, Moody's, S&P and Fitch have lost credibility in the eyes of many nations.

The firms that must be feeling most nervous about the outcome are Standard & Poor's (S&P), Moody's and Fitch.

Over the year to the end of October, only 2. 9% of American junk bonds had defaulted, according to Standard & Poor's (S&P), a rating agency.

By contrast, the U. S. S&P 500 . SPX is up around 260 percent over the same period.

Hungary's S&P credit rating is A but it has a 30% financing requirement.

More reassuringly, Moody's, S&P and Fitch, the three major credit-rating agencies, all said France's rating was stable.

The other giant of the industry, Standard &Poor's (S&P), is also in rude health.

According to Standard &Poor's (S&P), a ratings agency, Indonesian public debt has dropped from 65% of GDP in 2001 to less than 30% now.

U. S. S&P stock futures jumped 0. 7 percent, reversing early losses, and European shares were also called higher.

But if you'd just bought the most-hated 10 stocks (in today's S&P) each year you'd have an astonishing $16, 430 today.

Cement: Cement production in China's S & P 525 silicon cement.