Standard and Poor's

The Standard and Poor's Corporation (also: S&P), a subsidiary of McGraw-Hill[?], is a company that performs financial research and analysis. It is best known for its S&P 500 stock market index. The company also ranks the credit-worthiness of borrowers using a standardized ratings scale.

The basic ratings are:

• AAA
• AA
• A
• BBB
• BB
• B
• CCC
• CC
• C
• CI = past due on interest
• D = default
• NR

Ratings below BBB are non-investment grade junk bonds.

External Links

• Standard and Poor's website (http://www.standardandpoors.com)