(7)The relevance of rating outlooks for investors and issuers and their effects on markets are comparable to the relevance and effects of credit ratings. Therefore, all the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 which aim at ensuring that rating actions are accurate, transparent and free from conflicts of interest should also apply to rating outlooks. According to current supervisory practice, a number of requirements of that Regulation apply to rating outlooks. This Regulation should clarify the rules and provide legal certainty by introducing a definition of rating outlooks and clarifying which specific provisions apply to such rating outlooks. The definition of rating outlooks should also encompass opinions regarding the likely direction of a credit rating in the short term, commonly referred to as credit watches.