OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has published the U.S. Utilities, Power, and Gas (UPG) Quarterly Ratings Dashboard. This report highlights the rating actions taken in the UPG universe during the second quarter of 2015.

Rating activity within the U.S. UPG group during the quarter included 42 affirmations, five upgrades, seven downgrades, and one negative and five positive revisions in Rating Outlooks. The five upgrades reflect strengthening credit metrics driven by increasingly constructive regulatory climates. The negative rating actions were primarily driven by heightened construction and regulatory risk associated with the undertaking of complex power generation projects.

The second quarter set a record for issuance activity in the sector, in part driven by completion of acquisition financing. The issuances for companies under Fitch's coverage totaled $15.9 billion, 44% above 2014 levels. Ultimate parent company issuances made up 49% of the total issuances during the second quarter.

Fitch has also published an Excel worksheet titled ' Second-Quarter Rating Action Summary Report ' that provides a list of rating actions, issuance activity, Fitch's published research, and sector rating trends during the second quarter.

The dashboard and Excel worksheet are available at www.fitchratings.com.