NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 4/2/97 -- Standard&Poor's today has raised its rating on the Federative Republic of Brazil's US$54.1 billion of long-term foreign currency debt, including Brady Bonds, to double-`B'-minus from single-`B'-plus. Also, Standard&Poor's has raised its long-term local currency credit rating of the Republic to double-`B'-plus from double-`B'. In addition, Standard&Poor's has assigned its single-`B' local and foreign short-term credit ratings to Brazil. At the same time, Standard&Poor's has raised its ratings on Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social's (BNDES) $1.4 billion of long- term foreign currency debt to double-`B'-minus from single-`B'-plus. Also, Standard&Poor's has raised its long-term local currency counterparty credit rating on BNDES to