Following up on issues identified in its January 24th report to Congress on the state of the credit rating industry, the SEC approved a 4th credit rating agency yesterday. Canada's Dominion Bond Rating Service now joins Moody's, S&P and Fitch to rate debt in the US.
As noted in the SEC's January 24th report, a lack of competition might be hurting the ability of investors to get the most timely and accurate ratings from these agencies. In about a month, the SEC expects to issue a concept release on the possible restructuring of how the credit rating industry is regulated. The SEC's Jan. 24th report is at http://www.sec.gov/news/studies/credratingreport0103.pdf.
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Posted by broc at 08:57 AM