S&P

Standard and Poor's cut its unsolicited ratings on Italy by one notch, warning of a deteriorating growth outlook and damaging political uncertainty, in a move that took markets by surprise and added to pressure on the debt-stressed euro zone.

Toronto's main stock market index fell sharply on Monday morning following a steep sell-off in global equities and commodities on mounting fears over Europe's debt crisis and slowing global growth.

(Reuters) - McGraw-Hill Cos Inc. plans to split into two public companies, with one holding its Standard & Poor's ratings and index businesses and the other holding its textbook publishing units.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's officials privately met with large bond investors weeks before the firm's U.S. debt downgrade, leaving some believing the chance of a rating downgrade was higher than they had previously thought, the Wall Street Journal said.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its underlying rating (SPUR) to 'AA-' from 'A+' on MultiCare Health System, Wash.'s outstanding debt, issued by Washington Health Care Facilities Authority.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Friday the U.S. economy needed more stimulus to get it moving, putting in a plug for government measures shortly before the White House unveils new proposals to boost job growth.

HP creates a TouchPad buying frenzy, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's whereabouts are still unknown, Hurricane Irene is headed to the United States, and more in today's Daily Scoop.

S&P couldn't take back its U.S. debt rating downgrade that rocked global financial markets. Once it was done, it was done. But now we know the agency embroiled in controversy for two weeks since its Aug. 5 downgrade was met with corporate regret. The ratings agency said Tuesday that Deven Sharma, S&P's president since 2007, will sept down. He will be succeeded on Sept. 12 by Citibank Chief Operating Officer Douglas Peterson. The move caps two weeks of controversy that has embroiled the com...

Those upset with the ratings agency Standard & Poor's after the company caused brief havoc in U.S. financial markets by downgrading America's debt rating exacted a measure of revenge Tuesday -- S&P announced its president is stepping down following two weeks of controversy.

The chief of Standard & Poor's will step down soon, to be replaced by a senior Citibank executive, in a move announced a few weeks after the credit rating agency downgraded U.S. government debt and sparked a row with Washington.

The chief of Standard & Poor's will step down next month, to be replaced by a senior Citibank executive, in a move announced a few weeks after the credit rating agency downgraded U.S. government debt and sparked a row with Washington.

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating the rating agency Standard & Poor's over its actions on mortgages leading up to the financial crisis, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average took a nose dive during Thursday trading, dropping more than four percent at times during trading. As the stock markets dropped across the board it raises the question -- at what level do circuit breakers cut in to stop a stock market from crashing?

A top official of Standard & Poor's said, France will retain its AAA rating, allaying fears of possible downgrade of the country?s rating due to ongoing eurozone debt crisis.

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether analysts at Standard & Poor's (S&P) wanted to lower ratings on selected mortgage-backed securities, but were prevented from doing so by more-senior S&P officials.

Standard & Poor's, the ratings agency that deprived the United States of its AAA rating, is being probed by the Department of Justice over credit ratings of several mortgage securities that led to the financial crisis in 2008.

S&P also reduced Google?s 12-month price target to $500 from $700.

Following Fitch?s affirmation of ?AAA? rating to U.S. debt, which was in sharp contrast to S&P?s downgrade, the focus now turns to whether Moody?s will retain top rating for the US.

While some lauded Google's move to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion on Monday, others, such as Standard & Poor's, view it as a mistake

A new Twitter-based hedge fund actually beat the performance of the S&P in July, according to a report.

The group connected the unrest to the war in Afghanistan ? suggesting that the British government could no longer afford to pay for that military campaign.