41.   They see the germs of improvement, in an improved bond rating, more qualified managers in city agencies and new economic development in the downtown area.

42.   Yet Wall Street rating agencies give it the second-lowest bond rating of any state, ahead of only Louisiana.

43.   DEVELOPED countries have been approached by the Apec Business Advisory Council to guarantee bonds issued by Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea to help improve their bond ratings.

44.   Mostly its services were limited to bond rating.

45.   The Indian company that granted Ahmedabad its AA bond rating was the first of its kind, and has since been joined by several others.

46.   The drop in the bond rating reflected the increase in the public spending debt fueled by the drop in the value of the peso.