Fitch is a credit rating agency that provides credit ratings, research, and commentary on the global fixed-income, debt securities, and debt markets. The company operates in 30 countries and has been in business for over 100 years.
Founded in 1913 in New York, Fitch started out as a publishing company that focused on financial information.
In 1997, Fitch merged with IBCA, a UK-based credit rating agency, to form Fitch IBCA.
Further mergers and acquisitions followed, including the acquisition of Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. in 2000.
In 2018, Fitch acquired Fulcrum Financial Data, a provider of financial data and analytics software.
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Fitch provides credit ratings for a range of financial instruments, including sovereign bonds, corporate bonds, and structured finance.
Fitch provides in-depth research on a range of industries and financial instruments, including economic outlooks, financial analysis, and market commentary.
Fitch offers a range of data and analytics tools to help investors and financial professionals make informed decisions, including credit risk models, data feeds, and portfolio analysis software.
A credit rating is an assessment of the creditworthiness of a borrower or a specific debt instrument.
Credit ratings are important because they help investors evaluate the credit risk of a particular investment and make informed decisions about buying or selling securities.
Fitch uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis to determine credit ratings, which take into account factors such as the issuer's financial strength, industry trends, and economic conditions.
Fitch's credit ratings are generally considered to be reliable and accurate, although they are not infallible and can change over time as market conditions and issuer creditworthiness change.
Fitch is regulated by various financial authorities, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) in the EU.