U.S. Stock Markets React to Moody's Downgrading of Government Credit Rating

On Monday, May 19, 2025, U.S. financial markets experienced minimal movement following Moody's Ratings' decision to downgrade the U.S. federal government's credit rating from its top-tier "Aaa" status. The downgrade was attributed to concerns over the nation's escalating national debt. This action mirrored similar moves by other major credit-rating agencies and did not catch investors by surprise. The S&P 500 edged up by 0.1% to close at 5,963.60, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3%, finishing at 42,792.07. The Nasdaq Composite remained nearly unchanged, rising just 0.1% to 19,215.46. Conversely, the Russell 2000, which tracks smaller companies, declined by...