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November 12, 2012 at 09:51 AM
Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings are in an unusual position. Several of their representatives may be made to stand trial in Italy as prosecutors look into allegations of market manipulation and abuse of privileged information. Similar charges against Moody’s, however, which had also been a target of the investigation, have been dropped.
Reuters reported Monday that prosecutors from the southern Italian town of Trani are pursuing the action after a series of cuts in Italy’s credit ratings was made by the agencies since the spring of 2011. Five representatives from S&P and two from Fitch could find themselves on trial in the Mediterranean nation.
A court will decide whether the case will proceed. Italian police issued a statement saying that two officials from Moody’s are no longer in jeopardy of trial, since prosecutors have dropped charges against them.
Prosecutors allege that reports by both S&P and Fitch on Italy and its banking system were leaked during business hours in at least one instance. The leak is alleged to have caused the Milan stock market to record heavy losses.
