(Editor's note: this article, issued earlier today, has been republished to amend the dateline, which was previously misstated. A corrected version follows.) LONDON (Standard&Poor's) June 9, 2004--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today it assigned its 'A-' long-term senior unsecured debt rating to the Republic of Hungary's (foreign currency A-/Stable/A-2; local currency A/Stable/A-1) upcoming ¥50 billion ($455 million) Samurai bond due 2009. This is the third foreign currency-denominated bond launched by Hungary in 2004, following the €1 billion ($1.23 billion) Eurobond issued in January and the £500 million ($920 million) bond issued in April. The rating on the ¥50 billion bond is equalized with the long-term foreign currency rating on the Republic of Hungary. "The ratings on Hungary
