Guest Post by James A. Kaplan, Chairman and CEO, Audit Integrity There is no denying that investors have suffered heavily in this era of deregulation. Beginning in the 1990’s, various administrations have taken steps to diminish the rules and...

Between 55 and 75 Western European companies with speculative-grade credit ratings could default in 2010, representing a default rate of between 8.7% and 11.1%, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. “While the annual default rate is likely...

Morgan Stanley says the UK could become the first of the G10 countries to have a major fiscal crisis if next year’s election results in a hung parliament. This is one of three potential “surprises” that  are more likely than the market is pricing in,...

Fitch Ratings forecasts, for a 312 company U.S. Corporate sample, that free cash flow (FCF) will rise, in aggregate, nearly 22% in 2010. This growth compares to a 21% decline in 2008 and a Fitch-estimated 13% decline in 2009. Due to the difficult...

Fitch examines the credit default swap spreads of sovereign debt in the wake of Dubai’s financial crisis in its latest Risk and Performance Monitor. “CDS spreads referencing sovereign debt widened nearly 6% last week as fears of a default by Dubai...