U.S. Equities Surge Amid Government Shutdown, FICO and Tesla Stocks of the Week

US equities have performed positively despite the government shutdown, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow gaining over 1%. FICO shares surged 18% after announcing direct credit score sales to lenders, while Tesla declined 3.3% despite strong delivery numbers. Pfizer rallied 16% following a deal with the Trump administration to reduce prescription drug costs. Crypto stocks also experienced a strong week as Bitcoin approached new highs.

US equities have shown resilience despite the ongoing government shutdown, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow gaining over 1% US Government Shutdown Live Updates Day 1: Wall Street dips amid weak private jobs data, federal shutdown^[1]. The Federal government shutdown, which began at 9.30 am Indian time on Wednesday, has suspended salaries for hundreds of thousands of government employees and put non-essential services on hold US Government Shutdown Live Updates Day 1: Wall Street dips amid weak private jobs data, federal shutdown^[1]. Despite the shutdown, the market's focus shifted towards significant developments in the credit score landscape.

FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation) announced a strategic shift in its operations, introducing the "FICO Mortgage Direct License Program." This program allows mortgage lenders and tri-merge resellers to acquire FICO Scores directly, bypassing traditional intermediaries FICO's Strategic Shift and Regulatory Onslaught Reshape the Credit-Score Landscape^[2]. The direct licensing program, effective October 1, 2025, has sparked a wave of regulatory changes, including the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) approval of VantageScore 4.0 and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) ban on medical debt from credit reports FICO's Strategic Shift and Regulatory Onslaught Reshape the Credit-Score Landscape^[2]. These developments signal a new era of increased competition, transparency, and expanded credit access.

The immediate market reaction to FICO's announcement was significant. FICO shares surged 18%, while major credit bureaus saw a decline in their stock prices FICO's Strategic Shift and Regulatory Onslaught Reshape the Credit-Score Landscape^[2]. This shift in the credit score market has highlighted the profound reordering of power within this critical financial sector.

Additionally, Tesla experienced a decline of 3.3% despite reporting strong delivery numbers. Pfizer rallied 16% following a deal with the Trump administration to reduce prescription drug costs. The crypto market also experienced a strong week as Bitcoin approached new highs US Government Shutdown Live Updates Day 1: Wall Street dips amid weak private jobs data, federal shutdown^[1].

While the government shutdown continues to impact federal services and employees, the focus on FICO's strategic shift and the regulatory changes in the credit score landscape has provided investors with a new perspective on the market dynamics.