An evaluation of credit quality of a company's debt issue by Thomson Financial BankWatch, Moody's, S&P, and Fitch Investors Service. investors and analysts use ratings to assess the riskiness of an investment. Ratings can also be an evaluation a country's creditworthiness or ability to repay, taking into consideration its estimated percentage default rate and political risk. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary
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ratings [plural]
► COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING figures that show how many people watch or listen to a television or radio programme: good/high ratings »
Advertisers seek out the programmes with the highest ratings for their main campaigns.
»low/poor ratings
»declining/improving ratings
»ratings go up/down
ratings battle/war »The two channels are locked in a ratings battle.
Main Entry: ↑rating
Financial and business terms. 2012.