leading rating

British  

noun

1. a rank in the Royal Navy comparable but junior to that of a corporal in the army

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Example Sentences

Tens of thousands protested against him in March after he sacked the widely respected finance minister, leading rating agencies to downgrade South Africa to “junk” status.

From The Guardian

Scotland could end up with a banking system much like that of Iceland on the eve of the financial crisis if it votes for independence, according to a warning from one of the world's leading rating agencies.

From Reuters

The three leading rating agencies have classified Hungary as "junk" for almost a year and Fitch has already said it plans to review Hungary's rating in the coming weeks.

From Reuters

The political spectacle that preceded a bipartisan deal this month to raise the debt ceiling and the subsequent downgrading of America's credit rating by a leading rating agency have spawned stories in the media about America's decline as a world power on Obama's watch.

From Reuters

Existing bonds are rated Triple-A by leading rating agencies.

From Reuters