Subprime, possible lawsuits by the SEC against rating agencies

The US authorities are reportedly considering launching legal action against some rating agencies for the role played by them in assessing the creditworthiness of the securities linked to the subprime mortgages responsible for the recent financial crisis. The Wall Street Journal reports it.
According to what is known, the investigation by the Sec, the US body for the supervision of the Stock Exchange, would also include Standard & Poor's. The "American Consob" would be examining the possibility that some rating agencies would not have carried out accurate and exact research on subprime mortgages and other loans packaged in bonds for the purpose of fraud.