epa03569684 (FILE) A file photo dated 08 December 2011 shows a view of the offices of Standard and Poor's in New York, New York, USA. The US Justice Department and some US states on 04 February 2013 informed the ratings agency Standard & Poor's that they plan to file a civil lawsuit over its overly optimistic evaluation of mortgage-backed securities. Reports on 05 February 2013 state US Attorney General William Holder has said the US may seek damages worth some 5 billion USD. The optimistic evaluations were made prior to the financial crisis triggered by a collapse in the housing market. Many investors based their decisions on whether to invest in the ratings. As the crisis unfolded in 2007 and 2008, the triple-A rated securities drastically lost value. The ratings agency later confirmed the report, saying the threatened lawsuit was 'without legal merit and unjust.' EPA/JUSTIN LANE (File: 12282416.jpg )
Στην υποβάθμιση του ιταλικού αξιόχρεου σε «ΒΒΒ-», με σταθερές προοπτικές, προχώρησε η Standard and Poor’s.
Αντίθετα από την Ιταλία, που βρίσκεται πλέον μία ανάσα πάνω από τη μη επενδυτική βαθμίδα, ο οίκος αξιολόγησης αναβάθμισε τη -μέχρι πρότινος σε πρόγραμμα- Ιρλανδία σε «Α» με σταθερές προοπτικές.
