Looks pretty coincidental bad news:

S&P lowers Ireland credit rating
US existing home sales plummet sharply

No recession also will be moulded into a recession, but remember it needs 2 consecutive quarters of negative economic growth.(GDP)

They are so powerful that even breaking the law, get charged, just get off scott free with a fraction of their ill gotten profits as fine, no onw went to jail, no fault found or guilt admitted. With that power, they can move the markets at will.