21.   The impact on Treasury prices may also be limited, the rating company said.

22.   The improved economic performance and lessened reliance on the foreign debt markets could help Hungary win an investment-grade rating from the two leading rating companies.

23.   The New York bond rating company has been giving more companies higher marks than poor grades recently.

24.   The rating company will aggressively pursue this business, Laserson said.

25.   The rating company said growing competition in Japan and overseas will put more pressure on profit margins and market share.

26.   The rating company said Thailand is too reliant on short-term foreign debt because of the deficit.

27.   The rating company said it expected the U.S. to make those payments.

28.   The threat of an bad unsolicited rating can influence the decision of a bond issuer to give its business to one rating company over another.

29.   The U.S. rating company said it would make a decision on the rating in the next month.

30.   Total business in the municipal bond market has shrunk so much in the past two years that bond rating companies are earning a lot less in fees.