S&P Said to Be Probed by N.Y. AG on CMBS Ratings

The New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, is investigating Standard & Poor's (S&P) to determine if it failed to adhere to its own rating methodology for commercial mortgage bonds to gain business from banks. McGraw Hill Financial, the parent company of S&P, is under scrutiny for six deals graded in 2011. This investigation is part of a broader inquiry involving at least three government agencies examining S&P's practices in grading commercial mortgage-backed securities, which involve pooling loans on properties like shopping malls and hotels to create securities sold to investors.

Who is investigating Standard and Poor's according to the text?

What is the purpose of the investigation into Standard and Poor's?

What specific methodology is being questioned in the investigation?

How many government agencies are investigating Standard and Poor's business according to the text?

What types of properties were involved in the commercial mortgage backed securities mentioned?