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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Standard & Poor's said late Tuesday that it downgraded four mortgage insurers because house prices are falling more than expected and unemployment in the U.S. is headed higher. The rating agency lowered the counterparty credit rating on MGIC Investment Corp. to 'BBB' from 'A-' and the counterparty credit and financial strength ratings of its mortgage insurance subsidiaries to 'A' from 'AA-'. PMI Group , Old Republic and Radian Group were also downgraded, S&P said. The outlook on all four ratings is negative. Radian, which saw the ratings of its mortgage insurance unit cut to A from AA-, said it's considering selling new shares or getting investments from outside parties to bolster its capital position. The company also said it's also talking with banks that provide its credit facility to change some covenants. Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this ne