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Egan-Jones downgrades U.S. rating to AA+ from AAA -Small ratings agency unlikely to have market-moving implications, but comes amid possible downgrades from larger ratings agencies. -Egan-Jones cites rising debt-to-GDP ratio for downgrade rather than delay in raising the debt ceiling. By Andrew Ackerman and Mark Taylor Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Egan-Jones Ratings Co. over the weekend lowered its rating on U.S. debt, the ratings firm's president, Sean Egan, announced Monday.

  Cutting a credit rating is significantly different that placing it on ‘watch’ or ‘under review’.Most readers are likely fully aware that Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s have sent out serious warning signals about the potential downgrade of the United States AAA credit rating.That said, another SEC officially recognized ratings entity has gone one step further and actually lowered Uncle Sam’s standing by one notch.What firm is so bold and brazen to send this volley across Capitol Hill and down Pennsylvania Avenue? Egan-Jones.Unlike the supposed brand name rating agencies which did little to help ordinary investors going into our economic...