What is the significance of credit rating agencies on Wall Street?

Credit rating agencies play a significant role on Wall Street by providing investors with an independent assessment of the creditworthiness of companies and their debt securities. The ratings assigned by credit rating agencies, such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch, are used by investors to make informed investment decisions and manage risk.

These agencies analyze a company's financial health, management strength, and other factors to determine the likelihood of a borrower defaulting on their debts. The ratings are expressed in letter grades, with AAA being the highest rating, followed by AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C, and D.

The significance of credit rating agencies on Wall Street became clear during the 2008 financial crisis, when many mortgage-backed securities and other complex financial products were given top ratings by these agencies, despite the fact that they were actually high-risk investments. This led to a loss of confidence in the ratings system and calls for increased oversight and regulation of the credit rating agencies.