Like investing in Apple (AAPL) in the 1980s or Amazon (AMZN) in the 1990s, this is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. The Stock Market Reaction to a Debt Rating Downgrade To save the U.S. economy from collapse during COVID-19 lockdowns, the government printed a bunch of money. Ultimately, more important factors – like renewed economic momentum, falling inflation, and a dovish shift in Fed policy – will continue to push the stock market higher.