S&P downgrade may spark tougher EU ratings curbs

LONDON (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's credit rating downgrades of nine euro zone countries will fuel attempts by European Union lawmakers to slap stricter curbs on sovereign ratings. The bloc's financial services chief Michel Barnier proposed in November a third set of rules for rating agencies in as many years. But faced with opposition from some of his fellow commissioners, Barnier dropped one proposed element: publication blackouts on ratings downgrades. Now, with many lawmakers angry about the timing of Friday's downgrades, that proposal could be revisited. ...