Stocks fell on Wednesday, a day after Fitch Ratings lowered its U.S. debt ratings to AA+ from the top AAA category, pointing to its growing debt burden and “erosion of governance” over the past two decades. The S&P 500 SPX, -1.38% fell about 63 points, or 1.4%, ending near 4,513, booking its biggest daily percentage decline since April 25, according to preliminary Dow Jones Market Data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.98% shed about 1%, while the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, -2.
17% closed 2.2% lower. Stocks already had been taking a breather from their march toward record levels when Fitch on Tuesday evening made good on a threat to downgrade its U.S. debt rating a notch to AA+. Longer-dated Treasury yields rose Wednesday, with the 10-year Treasury rate TMUBMUSD10Y, 4.079% touching 4.07%, according to FactSet. Treasurys and other haven assets are viewed as likely to benefit from a flight to safety in a scenario where investors get more jittery about the U.S.