What does 'AAA' rating, which the US has lost, mean?
Moody's downgraded the US sovereign credit rating from 'AAA' to 'AA1', citing rising government debt and interest payment ratios. Obligations rated 'AAA' are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk. 'AAA' rating suggests the highest level of confidence for investors as bonds or debt instruments with this rating are considered very safe.