Rising profits at Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG) are encouraging bond investors to lend to the biggest U.S. motorcycle maker at the lowest interest rates on record, further expanding the Milwaukee-based company’s margins.

Fitch Ratings expects to assign a rating of #39;BBB+#39; to the $400 million five-year medium-term note transaction for Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. . HDFS is the captive finance subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc.

Standard Poor#39;s Ratings Services on Wednesday raised its investment grade long-term corporate credit and senior unsecured ratings for Harley-Davidson Inc. to quot;BBB+quot; from quot;BBB,quot; citing the company#39;s 11 percent jump in motorcycle shipments.

Harley-Davidson posts profit versus year-ago loss Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 09:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2012 NEW YORK (AP) — Iconic motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. posted a profit of $105.7 million for the fourth quarter, boosted by improved consumer ...

Harley-Davidson Inc. posted a fourth-quarter profit of $105.7 million Tuesday, boosted by improved consumer confidence that prompted higher sales.