S&P Upgrades Salem, Mass.

Salem, Mass., steeped in witchcraft history, got an early Halloween present in the form of a rating upgrade from Standard & Poor's.

The agency raised its underlying rating on Salem's general obligation debt to A-plus from A, while assigning its AA long-term rating and an A-plus underlying rating to the city's state-qualified 2012 GO multi-purpose loan bonds.

Credit analyst Victor Medeiros cited the city's improved financial management in the face of increasing fixed costs and a challenged revenue environment.

In another Standard & Poor's move in Greater Boston, the agency removed Revere's school issuer credit rating from negative credit watch and raised it to A-plus while affirming its AA long-term rating and underlying rating on the city's GO bonds.

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