Moody’s prods Japan on debt (The Japan Times)

Japan should set a “well-articulated” target to reduce government debt that is already the largest in the world, according to Moody’s Investors Service. “Deficit reduction and a debt target would help support a rating,” Moody’s Senior Vice President Thomas J. Byrne said Tuesday in Singapore. “Things we are most concerned about are the lack of well-articulated long-term fiscal consolidation and a …

Rio cuts more debt with sale of Alcan unit to Bemis | MINING.com News

RIO Tinto Group, the worldâ??s third- largest mining company, yesterday sold part of its Alcan packaging unit to Bemis for $1,2bn to cut debt. Bemis agreed.

The Mess That Greenspan Made: Why stop at "BBB" for California debt?

The ratings agency said they were keeping California “on watch” for another downgrade, the state’s debt already the lowest rated of all 50 states. The last the state had a “BBB” rating was in 2004, during the last budget crisis, …