NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 12/22/95 -- Standard&Poor's places its single-`A'-plus senior debt and single-`A' subordinated debt ratings of Whirlpool Corp. and subsidiary Whirlpool Financial Corp. on CreditWatch with negative implications. Standard&Poor's affirms its `A-1' commercial paper ratings of both companies; these ratings are not on CreditWatch. About $1 billion of long-term debt is affected. The CreditWatch placements follow Whirlpool's announcement that earnings will remain under pressure for the fourth quarter of 1995. Whirlpool's earnings have been below expectations throughout 1995 as a result of sharply higher raw material costs, which have not been recouped based on the competitive market environment. Consolidated margins have slipped to 5.3% from 8% for the nine months ended Sept.
