From the Financial Sense Market Monitor. An intermarket analysis of paper and things. Even some of the paper assets have been kept aloft nicely thanks to...that's right...an infusion of paper (easy money and credit creation that's occured worldwide over the past few years).
S&P cut Nasdaq's credit rating to junk status citing debt burdens and its questionable strategy to buy a controlling interest in the London Stock Exchange. Financial Times reported that the exchange's counterparty credit & bank loan rating were lowered fromm BBB- (lowest investment grade rating) to BB+. The change will increase Nasdaq's borrowing costs should it wish to pursue aquisition targets. For an earlier look at the exchange consolidation trend that brought about Nasdaq's push for a stake in the LSE, please see "Exchange fever" .