Every few years, headlines scream about a looming U.S. government shutdown. Social media fills with panic, and the word “crisis” starts flying around. But history tells a very different story.

📊 The Numbers Behind Shutdowns

• Since 1976, there have been 21 shutdowns.
• The average S&P 500 move during these periods? Just –0.4%.
• In 85% of cases, the market quickly rebounded once the government reopened.
• After the record 35-day shutdown in 2018, stocks didn’t collapse — they rallied +11.6% in the next three months.

👉 For Wall Street, shutdowns have never been the catastrophe they’re portrayed as.

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🔎 Why Markets Stay Resilient

• Temporary disruption. Shutdowns don’t stop private business activity — they mainly delay government functions.
• Liquidity & Fed policy. What really drives markets is monetary policy, not political gridlock.
• Investor psychology. Panic headlines create fear, but smart money uses dips as entry points.

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💡 Investor Takeaway

A shutdown may rattle the news cycle, but for markets it’s often just noise.
For disciplined investors, it can even be a buying opportunity — picking up quality assets “on sale” while the crowd panics.

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📌 Bottom line:
Don’t confuse political drama with financial reality. History shows that shutdowns fade quickly, but opportunities for accumulation remain.

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With experience and realism,
George Zimmerman
Your broker & market partner