1.   For the city, with no new debt control measures and no rating upgrades, the picture is markedly worse than when Giuliani took over.

2.   The rating upgrade comes at a good time for the state.

3.   Wise also said he believes that El Paso, which already has investment-grade credit ratings, could be well positioned as the year unfolds for rating upgrades.

4.   The shares were buoyed by a Goldman Sachs rating upgrade to its Recommended List from Market Outperformer.

5.   Dealers attributed the buying interest to recent rating upgrades as well as a more positive economic outlook.