US markets open lower, Dow plunges over 250 points amid Moody’s downgrade and debt concerns

US stock markets opened sharply lower on Monday after Moody’s downgraded the country’s sovereign credit rating, citing concerns over escalating federal debt. The downgrade rattled investor confidence, triggering broad-based selling across equities and lifting market volatility. Investors sought safe-haven assets, pushing gold prices higher, while the dollar slipped against other major currencies.