Corporate Credit Rating: BB/Stable/-- Apple Computer Inc. recently announced that it experienced significantly slower-than-expected sales during October and November, which will result in revenues and earnings for its fiscal first quarter, ending Dec. 30, 2000, substantially below expectations. The company expects to report revenue of about $1 billion and a net loss, excluding investment gains, of $225 to $250 million when actual results are reported on Jan. 17, 2001. In addition, Apple lowered its revenue estimate for fiscal 2001, ending Sept. 30, to the $6 billion-$6.5 billion range, down from previous expectations of $7.5 billion-$8 billion. Standard&Poor's does not expect the prospect of lower revenues and the near-term loss to have an impact on Apple's ratings. Cash balances
