UsDowngrade

Standard & Poor's downgraded the U.S. debt rating for the first time on Friday. Coming on top of concerns of a second recession, the move has investors worried that we're headed into a bear market for stocks. Here's what that would look like.

Rumors were swirling all day Friday, and then it finally hit: Standard & Poor's downgraded the nation's credit rating. Here's what it means for you.

Until this point it would have been natural to assume that Congress would put aside partisan concerns and increase our borrowing capacity, as it has done 74 times since 1962. However, with the Aug. 2 deadline nearing and both parties continuing to bicker, investors need to consider how the looming...