Business quote

A default would crack open the foundations upon which our financial system is built. It is very conceivable that we'd see a number of financial markets break -- with worldwide panic triggering margin calls, runs and fire sales. — Janet Yellen, U.S. Treasury secretary, in remarks May 16, warning of the danger if Congress and the White House do not come to terms soon on raising the nation's debt ceiling, now at $31.4 trillion.

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