在标普(S&P)同意支付13.75亿美元了结对其提高抵押贷款证券评级的指控之后，人们对评级机构的注意力转到了穆迪(Moody's)身上。
With S&P agreeing to pay $1.375bn to settle allegations that it boosted mortgage securities ratings, attention has switched to Moody’s.
多家检查机构已开始加紧调查穆迪，康涅狄格州和密西西比州的总检察长表示他们就是其中两家。他们也是多家已与标普达成和解的检查机构之一。标普是全球最大评级机构，已同意向美国司法部(DoJ)支付6.875亿美元和解金、向美国19个州和哥伦比亚特区支付6.875亿美元和解金。所有这些机构都起诉了标普。
Attorneys-general in Connecticut and Mississippi said they are among the prosecutors stepping up their examination of the business. They were among the authorities that settled with Standard & Poor’s, the largest of the rating agencies, which agreed to pay the record sum to the Department of Justice, 19 US states and the District of Columbia.
知情人士表示，近来联邦检察官已约谈过穆迪高管，但穆迪在旷日持久的调查之后是否会被起诉，目前尚不明朗。
Federal prosecutors recently interviewed Moody’s officials but it is unclear whether the long-running probe will result in a lawsuit, according to people familiar with the case.
美国金融危机调查委员会(Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission)在分析评级机构如何吸引投资者、尤其是保守型投资者购买抵押贷款相关证券的做法时，对穆迪进行了案例分析。该委员会曾发布一份有关信贷危机多种根源的报告，援引了穆迪前高管声称该公司过于关注赢得评级市场份额的话，但穆迪一直否认这是自己的行事风格。
The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, which issued a report on the many causes of the credit crisis, used Moody’s as a case study for the rating agencies’ role in attracting even conservative investors into mortgage-related securities. The Commission cited former Moody’s executives who argued the company became too focused on winning market share in ratings — a characterisation the company has always denied.
对于来自多个州的总检察长的调查，穆迪表示：“我们仍然认为，这些调查毫无意义。”
With respect to the investigations from the state attorneys-general, Moody’s said: “We continue to believe that the cases are without merit.”
标普的解协议意味着美国司法部洗清了冤屈。曾有人指责司法部于2013年起诉标普，是为了报复标普在2011年调降美国国债评级。
The agreement also meant vindication for the DoJ, which was accused of suing S&P in 2013 in retaliation for its downgrade of US government debt in 2011.