Moody’s downgrade of the U.S. credit rating to Aa1 is expected to push up borrowing costs for consumers-impacting mortgage, auto loan, and credit card rates-while highlighting growing fiscal challenges for the nation.

Today's Stocks & Topics: FRSH - Freshworks Inc. Cl A, Market Wrap, FRSH - Freshworks Inc. Cl A, DG - Dollar General Corp., Moody’s U.S. Credit Rating Downgrade: What It Means for Your Money, Where to Invest After 70, UNH - UnitedHealth Group Inc., Equity Fund Flows, SRS - ProShares UltraShort Real Estate, RSG - Republic Services Inc., Education Plans, The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB).

The resumption of federal student loan payments is reducing consumers’ purchasing power, leading to tighter household budgets and potentially dampening economic growth due to lower consumer spending.

Today's Stocks & Topics: PDI - PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, Market Wrap, TEVA - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ADR, UPS - United Parcel Service Inc. Cl B, VRNA - Verona Pharma PLC ADR, Restart of Student Loan Repayments Could Squeeze Consumer Spending and Slow Economic Growth, Credit Card Debt, The Big Beautiful Bill, CTRA - Coterra Energy Inc., NET - Cloudflare Inc. Cl A, Japan, O - Realty Income Corp., The FCC Investigating Several Chinese Companies.

While many Americans favor real estate and gold as top long-term investments, financial advisors explain why stocks typically offer higher returns and greater diversification.

Today's Stocks & Topics: ORI - Old Republic International Corp., Market Wrap, Why Real Estate and Gold Aren’t Always the Best Long-Term Investments, ASPI - ASP Isotopes Inc., O - Realty Income Corp., Minerals and Modern Warfare, The Crypto Market, IBIT - iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, ALG - Alamo Group Inc., BA - Boeing Co., Banks’ Leverage.