Fitch

US - Fitch Ratings has downgraded Illinois general obligation (GO) taxable bonds to A- from A over concerns about the state's unfunded pension liabilities and fiscal gap.

GLOBAL - Private equity and real estate fundraising last year reached the lowest level since 2004, a survey by Preqin has revealed.

US - Five Ohio pension funds have filed a lawsuit against the three ratings agencies for allegedly providing strong ratings to mortgage backed securities in exchange for kickbacks from the issuing firms.