The international rating agency Standard & Poor's affirmed Norilsk Nickel’s long-term credit rating and its national scale rating at ВВВ- and ruAA+, respectively. The ratings were also taken off the CreditWatch list, with Negative rating outlook. The fact that the ratings are no longer on the CreditWatch list reflects the official statements the company’s management made to the extent that Norilsk Nickel is not going to suggest buying its shares out from UC RUSAL (which owns a 25% stake in the business) again; the rating agency also feels that the company’s financial performance