71.   The fight that the rating agencies are now engaged in over the Asian crisis goes beyond these kinds of routine disputes.

72.   The fact that Enron was able to hide significant leverage and other obligations from the public puts rating agencies at something of a crossroads.

73.   The financial environment has become much riskier and less predictable, and these recent events have caught the rating agencies themselves off guard.

74.   The GAO, a congressional watchdog, largely ignored the three other rating agencies because they covered fewer insurers.

75.   The major rating agencies cut the ratings on several Japanese banks and they are threatening to downgrade others.

76.   The most widely used rating agency for insurance companies is A.M. Best Co. in Oldwick, N.J.

77.   The mayor is in New York City meeting with bond rating agencies.

78.   The rating agencies are scheduled to announce their ratings of the notes on Monday, and they are expected to be sold on Wednesday.

79.   The rating agencies want the energy trading firms to reduce their debt and increase cash and other liquid assets to cover potential trading losses.

80.   The rating agency also said international growth is tough and increases risk.