"The coming months will continue to enjoy tailwinds from fiscal policy while monetary policy remains supportive of growth," says an S&P economist.
The rating agency puts GE on watch for a possible downgrade, saying the healthcare spinoff could result in “more volatile profitability and cash flow.”
The company posted “continuing declines across several beauty categories within the U.S. mass retail channel" in Q4.
The rating agency believes the blockade by four Arab states could put pressure on the country's economic growth and fiscal metrics.
The rating agency says IBM's transition to operating stability as it spends heavily on new businesses "will take longer than we had previously forecast."
The credit rating agency warns of "a growing likelihood that Toshiba will become unable to fulfill its financial obligations in a timely manner."
Specialty department store Kohl's has its corporate credit rating cut to BBB-, the lowest investment-grade rung.
Global uncertainty weighed on U.S.-based companies as they accelerated their cash hoarding in the third quarter.
S&P says continued stress on the energy sector from the oil price slump will drive defaults, offset somewhat by a likely delay in any interest rate hikes.
A rising debt level and dividends exceeding internally generated cash flow caused the downgrade.
Long-term corporate debt was particularly off, trailing the volume of issuance in last year's first quarter by 17%.
'Economic and financial risks to the Chinese government's creditworthiness are gradually increasing,' says S&P.
