Credit Rating Agencies on the Watch List Analysis of European Regulation

• Written by those involved in developing the European Regulation
• Following the 2009 G-20 agreement, rating agencies are being regulated for the first time and this book provides a comprehensive analysis on the new Regulation
• Explains a key factor of the global financial crisis. The regulatory reaction has addressed four main issues: new design of financial supervision, rating agencies, hedge funds, and short selling
• Combines a detailed analysis of the European rules on rating agencies with more general information on the way the agencies operate and why they are so important for the economy
• Helps the reader understand the supervisory financial structure in Europe, Basel rules, and the US framework on rating agencies

Credit rating agencies have been criticized for their role in the financial crisis by understating credit risk. The US subprime mortgage crisis highlighted the systemic relevance of the rating agencies and the deficiencies in their activities; this led to an international consensus to regulate the rating business. Written by those involved in developing European Legislation, this book explains EU Regulation in the context of global initiatives undertaken by the G-20, the Financial Stability Board, and IOSCO to address failures within the rating industry. 

Through an in-depth analysis of the EU Regulation's requirements on governance, conflicts of interest, methodologies, and transparency, the book provides a clear explanation of how rating agencies operate and how the identified failures have been addressed. Moreover, it examines the supervisory and enforcement powers of ESMA, the EU authority in charge of the registration and oversight of rating agencies. This is complemented with an analysis of guidance from supervisors (ESMA and EBA), IOSCO's recommendations, and US legislation. The book discusses possible new regulatory developments in areas such as the agencies' business model, competition, civil liability, and ratings of sovereign debt, in light of the Euro debt sovereign crisis. It concludes with the authors' support for an enhanced regulatory and oversight coordination at international level and for the implementation of the necessary steps to reduce the existing over-reliance on ratings.

Readership: Professionals working in the rating industry and financial sector, practitioners and academics in economics, finance, statistics, and business