Recently, there is a bit of a scandal regarding these rating agencies because they gave AAA ratings to some subprime securities.

最近，出现了一点关于评级机构的丑闻，因为他们将一些次级证券评为 AAA 级。

youdao

When structured products tanked during the crisis, ratings agencies defended the securities' high scores by arguing that they were too opaque to evaluate.

结果性产品在危机期间的表现极差，但评级机构辩护称，这些证券当初得分很高是因为它们不够透明，难以评估。

youdao

A large number of these securities received the highest credit ratings, including AAA, but proved to be anything but safe.

此前一大批住房抵押贷款支持证券都获得了包括AAA的最高信用评级，虽然事实证明并非如此。

youdao

But because they have such a good reputation, on the bases of ratings and other kinds of securities, people just took them as they were.

但是这些评级公司有着良好声誉，基于他们传统的评级,和对其他保险的评级，人们自然相信他们。

斯坦福公开课 - 经济学课程节选

Recently, however, there is a bit of a scandal regarding these rating agencies because they gave AAA ratings to some subprime securities.

但是,最近,出现了一点关于评级机构的丑闻,因为他们将一些次级证券评为AAA级

耶鲁公开课 - 金融市场课程节选

The official noted there appeared to be little effort to monitor compliance and they are looking into whether violations would enable the office now to take another look at alleged misconduct in securities ratings that contributed to the collapse of financial markets.

WSJ: NY attorney general looks at ratings agencies

Such agencies are paid by the issuers of bonds and other securities for ratings, raising concern about potential conflicts of interest.

BBC: Standard & Poor's expects lawsuit over subprime ratings

The securities carried AAA ratings, and yet offered much higher yields than other AAA-rated, non-MBS securities.

FORBES: What Advisors Can - And Can't - Do For You