NBC - G.E. DOWNRATED -- BUT NOT AS MUCH AS EXPECTED

G.E. DOWNRATED -- BUT NOT AS MUCH AS EXPECTED

General Electric, the corporate parent of NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Universal Pictures, was downgraded by Standard and Poors from its AAA credit rating to AA-plus. The company has been shaken by huge losses from its GE Capital unit and -- to a far lesser extent -- by continued low ratings at its NBC network. Things could have been worse. Many analysts had predicted an even sharper ratings cut. When that failed to materialize, GE shares, which had fallen to drastically in recent weeks, shot up nearly 13 percent, to close at $9.57.

13/05/2009