Stocks Brush Off Moody's Downgrade to Finish Higher

The S&P 500 scraped up its sixth consecutive win

Patrick Martin

Managing Editor

May 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM

Stocks were a resilient bunch today, shaking off the Moody's downgrade to finish well off their session lows. The Dow jumped 137 points for a third-straight win, paring a triple-digit loss from the morning. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished just above breakeven, the former securing a six-day win streak. Despite Wall Street steadying, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) logged its biggest single-session gain since April 21.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

Analyst: social media stock facing AI headwinds.
Call traders unfazed by struggling SMCI.
Plus, airlines upgraded; a social media stock roundup; and the best stock today.

5 Things to Know Today

The Moody's downgrade sent mortgage rates back above 7% (CNBC)
Foreign holdings of U.S. treasuries hit a record high in March. (Reuters)
Airline stocks earn another analyst upgrade.
Keep an eye on these other social media stocks.
Novavax stock gets a much-needed shot in the arm.

There are no corporate earnings of note today.

uvolmay19

Safe-Haven Assets Bounce Back

Oil prices finished marginally higher today, as stalled talks between the U.S. and Iran offset the Moody's downgrade. June-dated West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 20 cents, or 0.3%, to settle at $62.69 per barrel.

The credit downgrade was a boon for safe-haven assets today. June-dated gold futures gained 1.5% to finish at $3,223 per ounce on the day.

Follow @Schaeffers

Two High-Octane Trade Ideas. One Simple Goal: Intraday Profits.

Dynamite Day Trading Signals delivers two same-day options trades every week — powered by proprietary intraday analysis and 43+ years of trading expertise.

But this isn’t just another stream of alerts.

It’s a structured plan with clear entry and exit points – designed for traders who want to act fast, trade smart, and wrap up gains before the closing bell.

No guesswork. No overnight exposure – Just two well-researched setups per week — whether you prefer buying premium or selling it.

And the results speak for themselves: subscribers have locked in +245.8% total profit over the last six months (since inception!).

👉 Start your one-month trial now for just $10, and be ready for the next trade alert.