Stocks are looking lower today. Treasury bonds are looking lower, too, on the heels of the U.S. credit rating downgrade from Moody's on Friday. What's looking up? Gold and the VIX, the CBOE's benchmark of market volatility based on the S&P 500 Index.

Key Points The stock market is down today after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. and updated its outlook to negative. The U.S. no longer holds a top-tier credit rating from any of the three major institutions.