Iosco proposes changes to rating agencies’ code of conduct

Credit rating agencies under fire from Iosco

MADRID – The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (Iosco) has proposed changes to the code of conduct for credit rating agencies (CRAs) in its new consultation paper, The Role of Credit Rating Agencies in Structured Finance Markets.

The consultation paper says processes and procedures need to be strengthened to improve the quality and integrity of the ratings process – criticised for lacking transparency and independence.

The Iosco recommendations specify that decision-making over ratings downgrades be objective and that CRAs establish an independent function responsible for periodic reviews of an agency’s rating methodologies and models. Iosco also warned agencies to refrain from rating structured products if the complexity of the product raises doubts about the validity of their ratings models and methodologies.

Conflicts of interest are another concern. The paper says CRAs should conduct periodic reviews over their employee remuneration practices, and disclose whether any one client and its affiliates constitute over 10% of the CRA’s annual revenue.

Iosco requests comments on the consultation paper by April 25, 2008.

Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.

To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@risk.net or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.risk.net/subscribe

You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@risk.net to find out more.

Financial crime and compliance50 2024

The detailed analysis for the Financial crime and compliance50 considers firms’ technological advances and strategic direction to provide a complete view of how market leaders are driving transformation in this sector

Investment banks: the future of risk control

This Risk.net survey report explores the current state of risk controls in investment banks, the challenges of effective engagement across the three lines of defence, and the opportunity to develop a more dynamic approach to first-line risk control

Op risk outlook 2022: the legal perspective

Christoph Kurth, partner of the global financial institutions leadership team at Baker McKenzie, discusses the key themes emerging from Risk.net’s Top 10 op risks 2022 survey and how financial firms can better manage and mitigate the impact of…

Emerging trends in op risk

Karen Man, partner and member of the global financial institutions leadership team at Baker McKenzie, discusses emerging op risks in the wake of the Covid‑19 pandemic, a rise in cyber attacks, concerns around conduct and culture, and the complexities of…

Moving targets: the new rules of conduct risk

How are capital markets firms adapting their approaches to monitoring and managing conduct risk following the Covid‑19 pandemic? In a Risk.net webinar in association with NICE Actimize, the panel discusses changing regulatory requirements, the essentials…

Most read articles loading...

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Risk.net account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account here