Credit rating agencies could be banned from downgrading countries in the eurozone's bailout scheme, Michel Barnier, EU internal market commissioner, has indicated. Presenting his proposals to reform trading in financial derivatives on Thursday, Barnier suggested the ban could be extended to downgrades of countries negotiating to join the bailout. The EU is unlikely to follow the advice of the UK's independent commission on banking and formally separate investment and retail banking. Barnier called for a detailed study of the issue but hinted that he would support countries maintaining super-banks that integrate ... (full story)