CHANGE: Moody’s May Downgrade 17 Banks, Securities Firms. “Moody’s Investor Service warned on Thursday it could downgrade the credit ratings of 17 global banks and securities firms due to more fragile funding conditions, increased regulatory burdens and a more difficult operating environment.”

Related: Moody’s Eyes 114 European Bank Ratings For Possible Downgrade. “Moody’s Investors Service placed various ratings of 114 financial institutions in 16 European countries on review for a possible downgrade, citing pressures from a difficult operating environment in Europe, weakening sovereign creditworthiness and challenges from capital markets activities. Moody’s said it has placed the stand-alone credit assessment on 99 banks, the long-term debt and deposit ratings of 109 institutions and the short-term ratings of 66 institutions on review for downgrade.”