Ford Motor Co. reports the following information from the Risk Factors and the Management Ford Motor Co. (F) Discussion and Analysis sections of its 2010 10-K report.

a. What financial ratios do credit rating companies such as the four NRSROs listed above, use to evaluate the relative riskiness of borrowers?

b. Why might an increase in credit ratings result in lower interest costs and increase Ford's access to credit markets?

c. What type of actions can Ford take to improve its credit ratings?

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Credit Ratings Our short-term and long-term debt is rated by four credit rating agencies designated as nationally recognized statistical rating oganizations ("NRSROS") by the Securities and Exchange Commission: Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited ("DBRS"); Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch"); Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"); and Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies ("S&P").