Standard & Poor Manipulates Stock Market:

The S&P announced a poor outlook for stock prices based on concern over the federal budget, thus causing the price of stocks to be depressed. This means more bang for the buck for speculators who can now purchase more stocks at lowered prices and thereby make greater profits when the price of stocks rebounds in the near future.

While speculators will win over the long run, conservative players in the market, including retirees will be gouged as usual or chased out of the market altogether.