*** After hours Moody's affirmed United.....>

RATINGS: *** After hours Moody's affirmed United States' Aaa rating; maintained

stable outlook

- Reflecting the US' exceptional economic strength, the very high strength of

its institutions & its very low exposure to credit-related shocks given the

unique and central roles of the US dollar and US Treasury bond market in the

global financial system. Together, these features counterbalance the US' lower

-- though still high -- fiscal strength.

- Moody's sees little prospect of the US' economic strength diminishing

materially in the foreseeable future. Even if the rate of growth continues its

secular decline, the economy's other attributes will continue to support overall

economic strength.

- Similarly, there is no near-term prospect of the benchmark status of the USD &

US Tsy market being undermined. Moody's would consider changing the outlook on &

ultimately moving the US' rating if it were to conclude over the coming years

that US policymakers do not have the capacity to respond decisively to mitigate

the country's adverse fiscal dynamics over the medium term.