
I don't expect much growth to come from tax cuts, says Fmr. CEA Chair Jason Furman
Jason Furman, Former CEA Chair, joins 'Closing Bell: Overtime' to discuss the U.S. budget, debt & deficits an Moody's downgrade.

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Moody's Downgrades America's Credit Rating Over D.C. Dysfunction
In a sure sign that President Donald Trump is ushering the U.S. into a new Golden Age, Moody's became the third and final credit ratings agency to downgrade America's rating on Friday, citing rising debt and interest payments, as well as dysfunction in Washington D.C. Downgrading America's financial outlook from 'stable' to 'negative,' Moody's pointed the finger at lawmakers, saying, 'Successive U.S. administrations and Congress have failed to agree on measures to reverse the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs.' In doing so, the agency joined its fellow ratings agencies in removing the United States' former top triple-A status; Fitch downgraded the U.S. in 2023, and S&P did so back in 2011, where it has remained at AA+ ever since. The news comes as Trump's attempts to implement his radical fiscal policies in the form of his 'Big Beautiful' bill were thwarted by his fellow Republicans, who blocked the legislation. Trump's proposed plan focused on taxes, including extending 2017 tax cuts he previously implemented, and allocated $46.5 billion to resume construction of his long-talked-about border wall. Analysts have warned that the bill, including a proposed $5 trillion in tax cuts, could exacerbate the country's already massive debt. In a statement on Friday, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said of the news, 'Moody's downgrade of the United States' credit rating should be a wake-up call to Trump and Congressional Republicans to end their reckless pursuit of their deficit-busting tax giveaway,' adding, 'Sadly, I am not holding my breath.' Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, Rep. French Hill (R-AR) also released a statement, pointing the finger at Democrats as well as his fellow Republicans and stating that the news served as a 'strong reminder that our nation's fiscal house is not in order,' a growing threat that agencies had been 'sounding the alarm' about for years but that 'neither party in power' had managed to fix. Since taking office, Trump has promised to balance the national budget, primarily through drastically lowering government expenditure by laying off huge swaths of the workforce via DOGE and implementing a convoluted series of tariffs that set off a trade war with China. The U.S. national debt now sits north of $36 trillion. In achieving a unanimous AA+ credit rating, the U.S. now sits alongside nations like New Zealand and Finland, but below Canada, Australia, and Germany.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jim Cramer Slams U.S. Stock Market For 'Hideously Underperforming' In Comparison To European Exchanges
The U.S. has some of the world's most well-known and profitable stock exchanges, but they aren't the only game in town. Many nations have well-run, lucrative stock exchanges that offer compelling investment opportunities. Some are making investors so much money that CNBC's Jim Cramer recently slammed U.S. exchanges for "hideously underperforming" compared to their rivals. Is this the beginning of a global shift or just a blip on the radar? "The money keeps going into these European stocks, and it's rather amazing,"Cramer told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." The recent trend of high-performing European exchanges traces back to President Donald Trump's tariffs, which have roiled America's stock and bond markets. According to CNBC, Germany's DAX is up 19% this year. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. By contrast, CNBC noted that the S&P 500 is only up 1% in 2025. That doesn't necessarily mean it's time to abandon the S&P 500. No one can deny it has delivered incredible returns for investors, especially over the last decade. However, the index's strengths conceal a big potential weakness. The S&P 500's gains have mostly been in the tech sector, which dominates the Magnificent Seven stocks at the top of the index. The tech sector depends heavily on components and raw materials from China, and those products are now subject to the Trump administration's tariffs. Although negotiations between Trump and President Xi Jinping are ongoing, the uncertainty surrounding the long-term picture has rattled investor confidence in the U.S. tech sector. The uncertainty surrounding big tech is not the only headwind for U.S. stocks. U.S. debt is also a concern for global investors and credit ratings agencies. Moody's downgraded U.S. credit rating only a few hours after Trump proposed a 50% tariff on EU goods. That coincided with a jump in bond yields, which caused investors worldwide to cool on the U.S. market. Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Adverse market conditions and instability are not unique experiences on U.S. exchanges. They've happened before, but investors tended to hedge their bets by making commodities trades or alternative investments on U.S.-based exchanges. The game is very different now, and ironically, much of the change is due to big tech's influence on global commerce. Investing on foreign exchanges used to be complicated. Now, all it takes is an internet connection and a few clicks on a mobile phone or computer. "What's happening that didn't happen then is there is an alternative," said Cramer. Increasingly, investors are turning to Europe. CNBC notes that many European stocks offer better price-to-value ratios and stronger returns. That's in addition to the ECB's more investor-friendly interest rate policy. It's not just individual investors moving their money to Europe. CNBC also sighted research from investment firm KKR (NYSE:KKR), which said, "Many [chief investment officers] are considering moving assets out of the United States towards other parts of the world." The fact that large institutional investors are also moving their money to Europe means it's more than just a question of offers solid options if you're an investor searching for an alternative to U.S. exchanges. Cramer believes Europe is "safer and more predictable" and says it "can continue to climb given the momentum." Despite that, the recent productivity in the European markets doesn't necessarily mean a permanent power shift is in the cards. CNBC noted that the U.S. market is still twice as large as Europe's, and still has quality options for investors. It may seem counterintuitive, but moments of market instability often carry the best opportunities for investors to buy stocks with upside at a discounted price. Despite his criticism, Cramer still believes in the U.S. market and its long-term potential. "There are tons of stocks I would like to buy if the prices come down," he said. Read Next: Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? KKR (KKR): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Jim Cramer Slams U.S. Stock Market For 'Hideously Underperforming' In Comparison To European Exchanges originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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2 days ago
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Moody's cuts Nissan corporate family rating to Ba2
TOKYO (Reuters) - Global ratings agency Moody's on Friday cut Nissan Motor Co Ltd's corporate family rating to Ba2 from Ba1, as the embattled Japanese automaker seeks to push through a turnaround. The outlook remains negative, Moody's said. "The downgrade reflects the deterioration and expectation for continuing weakness in Nissan's credit profile, most notably in its automotive free cash flow and EBIT margin," Dean Enjo, Moody's ratings vice president and senior analyst, said in a statement. Japan's third-biggest automaker last month unveiled sweeping new cost cuts, saying it would reduce its workforce by around 15% and cut production plants to 10 from 17 globally, as performance in its key markets continues to come under pressure. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data