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

Rating activity within the U.S. Utilities, Power and Gas (UPG) group during the quarter included five first-time ratings, 22 affirmations, one upgrade, one downgrade, along with five positive and two negative revisions to Rating Outlooks. Merger activity was a catalyst for both negative and positive rating actions in the quarter, the former reflecting concern regarding higher debt leverage and the latter, affiliation with higher-rated parent companies.

Third-quarter issuance activity for companies under Fitch's coverage was tepid following a record-setting second quarter, totaling $4.2 billion, and reflected increased market volatility and concerns over rising interest rates.

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

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