The Market’s in Downgrade Denial – Here’s What to Do

[video_player type=”embed” style=”1″ dimensions=”640×360″ width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ ipad_color=”black”]PGlmcmFtZSB3aWR0aD0iNjQwIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjM2MCIgc3JjPSJodHRwczovL3d3dy55b3V0dWJlLW5vY29va2llLmNvbS9lbWJlZC9TWWdhU2Q0NzlRYz9zaT01NkJkSG1PR21rb3ZsNlB5IiB0aXRsZT0iWW91VHViZSB2aWRlbyBwbGF5ZXIiIGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyPSIwIiBhbGxvdz0iYWNjZWxlcm9tZXRlcjsgYXV0b3BsYXk7IGNsaXBib2FyZC13cml0ZTsgZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhOyBneXJvc2NvcGU7IHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZTsgd2ViLXNoYXJlIiByZWZlcnJlcnBvbGljeT0ic3RyaWN0LW9yaWdpbi13aGVuLWNyb3NzLW9yaWdpbiIgYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuPSIiPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==[/video_player]

As we approach the close today, one might have assumed a much bigger response to Moody’s downgrade of U.S. debt. We saw the S&P 500 notch a lukewarm 0.13% decline. Historically, though, the response to such downgrades has been much bigger the day of the downgrade and the coming weeks and months after.

On August 5, 2011, for instance, Standard and Poor’s downgraded U.S. debt. The market’s response was immediate with a 6.59% decline the next day.

The next downgrade from Fitch came on August 1, 2023 and the big index declined 1.55% the next day, 5.27% over the next week, and a full 10.33% over the next three months.

In comparison, today’s 0.13% decline is downright muted. So we’ve got to ask “why?”

Is it possible that the market has become so accustomed to debt and deficits that we’re now immune?

Let’s talk about today’s response, what this means in the coming days and weeks, and how we can prepare…

More from TheoTrade

Monday, August 17, 2026 – Tony’s Pre-Market Playbook

First Software, Here’s What’s Next

The Difference Between Chasing and Buying the Highs

Something’s off. Here’s my $178 fix.

Protecting Yardage: What Kickoff Returns Teach Us About Stop Management

Indices are Quiet, But Equities are Rockin’


Most Recent

Monday, August 17, 2026 – Tony’s Pre-Market Playbook
First Software, Here’s What’s Next
The Difference Between Chasing and Buying the Highs
Something’s off. Here’s my $178 fix.
Protecting Yardage: What Kickoff Returns Teach Us About Stop Management

Get educational market insights sent right to your inbox.

As Seen In