Mission impossible for ratings
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is soliciting views on how to reform the credit rating process to minimise conflicts of interest and assure higher-quality ratings. But this exercise is based on an erroneous view of the possible, argues David Rowe
It is widely recognised that credit rating agencies failed miserably in their mission to provide credible evaluations on the quality of highly structured residential mortgage-backed securities. Many argue this failure was a direct result of conflicts of interest inherent in the ‘issuer pays’ structure of the rating market.
While there is an element of truth in this view, it fails to capture the
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (point 2.4), printing is limited to a single copy.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. As outlined in our terms and conditions, https://www.infopro-digital.com/terms-and-conditions/subscriptions/ (clause 2.4), an Authorised User may only make one copy of the materials for their own personal use. You must also comply with the restrictions in clause 2.5.
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@risk.net
More on Credit risk
Vendor spotlight: Credit lending operations, 2025
Crisil’s Credit+ platform is a modular, enterprise credit lending and operations platform on a microservices-based architecture
Vendor spotlight: Credit risk management solutions, 2025
Crisil has adopted a platform strategy that brings together its full suite of credit risk, analytics and regulatory capabilities
US bank CROs see only ‘modest’ credit risk from tariffs
Risk Live North America: Lower margins are early sign of stress, but Ally, Citizens and Pinnacle confident on loan books
Credit risk management solutions 2024: market update and vendor landscape
A Chartis report outlining the view of the market and vendor landscape for credit risk management solutions in the trading and banking books
Finding the investment management ‘one analytics view’
This paper outlines the benefits accruing to buy-side practitioners on the back of generating a single analytics view of their risk and performance metrics across funds, regions and asset classes
Revolutionising liquidity management: harnessing operational intelligence for real‑time insights and risk mitigation
Pierre Gaudin, head of business development at ActiveViam, explains the importance of fast, in-memory data analysis functions in allowing firms to consistently provide senior decision-makers with actionable insights
Sec-lending haircuts and indemnification pricing
A pricing method for borrowed securities that includes haircut and indemnification is introduced
XVAs and counterparty credit risk for energy markets: addressing the challenges and unravelling complexity
In this webinar, a panel of quantitative researchers and risk practitioners from banks, energy firms and a software vendor discuss practical challenges in the modelling and risk management of XVAs and CCR in the energy markets, and how to overcome them.