Ratings

The $6 billion debt reduction achieved by The Williams Companies led Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services to affirm the company’s B+ corporate credit rating and that of its subsidiaries, Northwest Pipeline Corp., Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp., and Williams Production RMT Co. and to revise its outlook on the companies to positive from stable.

With oil and natural gas prices expected to remain high and earnings continuing to grow, Prudential Equity Group on Monday raised its ratings on exploration and production companies to “favorable” from “neutral” and lifted its commodity price forecasts to $6.50/Mcf for gas and $50/bbl for crude oil through the rest of 2005 and into 2006.

Calling it an example of a “successful regulatory outcome,” Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services praised an omnibus settlement between Xcel Energy’s Public Service Company of Colorado utility and more than two dozen of its stakeholders. The deal was approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission last December.

Calling it an example of a “successful regulatory outcome,” Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services praised an omnibus settlement between Xcel Energy’s Public Service Company of Colorado utility and more than two dozen of its stakeholders. The deal was approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission last December.

Fitch Ratings analysts said Tuesday they expect natural gas prices to be high over the next few years, averaging $6.25/MMBtu this year and rising by an average 0.6% annually in real terms before stabilizing in 2010. In its spring 2005 forecast on the U.S. wholesale power market, analysts are forecasting gas prices to range from a high of $7.80/MMBtu to $5.50/MMBtu in 2009, then remain in the $5.50 area.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (S&P) on Tuesday affirmed El Paso Corp.’s “B-” credit rating and revised the outlook to “stable” from “negative” to reflect the company’s progress to restructure and improve liquidity.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service (S&P) on Tuesday affirmed El Paso Corp.’s “B-” credit rating and revised the outlook to “stable” from “negative” to reflect the company’s progress to restructure and improve liquidity.

With speculation on potential disruptions in global crude supplies driving spot and futures markets, Fitch Ratings last Monday raised its natural gas price deck to $5.75/Mcf this year and to $4.50 in 2005. Fitch also pushed oil higher, to $34/bbl this year and to $27 in 2005.

With speculation on potential disruptions in global crude supplies driving spot and futures markets, Fitch Ratings on Monday raised its natural gas price deck to $5.75/Mcf this year and to $4.50 in 2005. Fitch also pushed oil higher, to $34/bbl this year and to $27 in 2005.