What Function Do Ratings Agencies Serve in the Financial Markets

question 83

Essay

What function do ratings agencies serve in the financial markets?

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Definitions:

Cost Or Market

An accounting method for inventory valuation, valuing inventory at the lower of its historical cost or market value.

Weighted Average Cost

A method of inventory costing that assigns a weighted average cost to each unit of inventory on hand, based on the cost of goods available for sale and the number of units available.

Perpetual System

An inventory management approach that tracks the sale and purchase of inventory in real-time, providing a continuous account of inventory and cost of goods sold.

Perpetual LIFO

A method of inventory valuation where the last items acquired are the first considered sold in an ongoing, or perpetual, system.