us debt

Ratings Agency Egan-Jones Downgrades US Debt

Ratings agency Egan-Jones has downgraded its credit rating for US debt one level -- to AA- from AA -- citing Federal reserve plans to try to stimulate the economy by buying mortgage bonds.

US Debt: Money Managers' Least Favorite Investment

Ask the people who invest billions for a living to name their favorite picks for 2012 and you'll get a smorgasbord worthy of a holiday party: Brazilian stocks, U.S. junk bonds, and government debt from Colombia. Ask them what they dislike and they'll name one of the top-performing investments this year: U.S. government bonds.

Will U.S. Downgrade Bring On a Bear Market?

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.

The Good News Behind the Growing National Debt

The deficit grew to a higher-than-expected $150.4 billion in November as government spending increased for the month. But November brought some bright spots as well: Federal revenue also grew at a higher rate in November, which confirms that the economy is expanding.

U.S. Deficit is Dangerous, Greenspan Warns

In a new op-ed piece, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks out against U.S. budget deficits. He calls for a "tectonic shift in fiscal policy" and warns that if borrowing isn't reined in, America could face a Greek-style debt crisis.