Stock futures slide after U.S. debt downgrade highlights deficit risk: Live updates

Stock futures slide after U.S. debt downgrade highlights deficit risk: Live updates


Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 14, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters

Stock futures fell Sunday evening as investors responded to Moody’s downgrade of the U.S.’ credit rating.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 308 points points, or 0.8%. S&P 500 futures pulled back 0.8%, while Nasdaq 100 futures lost 0.9%.

Moody’s on Friday bumped the country’s rating down by one notch to Aa1 from Aaa, bringing the agency in line with its peers. The firm cited the financing challenges tied to the federal government’s growing budget deficit and the ramifications of rolling over existing U.S. debts in a period of high borrowing costs.

The debt downgrade could pressure bond prices and raise yields at a time when the economy is already under pressure from President Donald Trump’s unfolding tariff policy.

“The fundamental factor of less foreign demand for them and the growing size of the pile of debt that needs to be constantly refinanced is not going to change,” said Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Financial Group, of the U.S. rating change. Moody’s downgrade “is symbolic in the sense that here’s a major rating agency that’s calling out that the U.S. has strained debts and deficits.”

The downgrade comes after a winning week on Wall Street as investors cheered the White House’s deal with China to temporarily slash levies. The agreement was seen as a breakthrough for global trade after Trump’s initial plan for broad and steep import taxes was unveiled last month.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite led the way, surging more than 7%. The broad S&P 500 jumped over 5% and posted a five-day winning streak.

The blue-chip Dow rallied more than 3% last week. Friday’s gain of over 300 points pushed the 30-stock average into positive territory for 2025.

Investors on Monday will monitor speeches from U.S. central bank officials such as Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic, New York Fed President John Williams and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan scheduled throughout the day. Leading indicators data is due in the morning.



Source

CNBC Daily Open: Lights out and away we go into the new week
World

CNBC Daily Open: Lights out and away we go into the new week

SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – SEPTEMBER 22: George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W15 leads Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-24 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) […]

Read More
Japan stocks hit record high after ruling party picks pro-stimulus Sanae Takaichi
World

Japan stocks hit record high after ruling party picks pro-stimulus Sanae Takaichi

Sanae Takaichi, newly-elected leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), speaks during a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. Japan’s ruling party elected right-leaning Takaichi as its first female leader today, in a vote that is also likely to determine who will become Japan’s next prime minister. […]

Read More
Bridgewater says investors are missing three big bets hiding beyond U.S. megacaps
World

Bridgewater says investors are missing three big bets hiding beyond U.S. megacaps

Bridgewater Associates has identified three key bets beyond U.S. stocks which it says can provide a layer of resilience to portfolios as investors’ equities exposures hit all-time highs. The hedge fund giant which manages about $90 billion in assets, sees a wealth of opportunities across foreign companies, gold and bonds that investors have “hardly begun […]

Read More