The Scottish government has been given the same credit rating as the UK as it prepares to issue its first financial bonds.
Credit rating company Moody's rated the Scottish government as Aa3 while rivals S&P Global rated it as AA, both identical to the UK's sovereign rating.
The government wants to issue bonds - which will allow it to borrow money from investors who in return receive regular interest payments - to raise money for infrastructure projects.
Moody's said its rating was based on the Scottish government's "prudent fiscal management" and the country's economic stability.
S&P said Scotland's economy was "strong" with the country operating "within a stable and predictable institutional framework that provides strong oversight and well-defined arrangements with the UK central government."
