21.   Concern about the debt ceiling also hurt prices.

22.   Concern about the debt ceiling might roil the Treasury market a little as the White House and Congress near the deadline.

23.   Congress was forced to approve six temporary increases in the federal debt ceiling during the negotiations.

24.   Congressional leaders met late in the day to discuss the debt ceiling.

25.   Congress must raise the debt ceiling by the end of February or risk a default on government bonds.

26.   Darcy Bradbury, deputy assistant secretary for federal finance, advised against trading the securities in when-issued form before the debt ceiling increases.

27.   Darcy Bradbury, deputy assistant secretary for federal finance, advised against trading the new notes in when-issued form before the debt ceiling increases.

28.   Deficit hawks blocked action on a permanent increase in the debt ceiling until Congress adopted the Gramm-Rudman requirement for a balanced federal budget within five years.

29.   Democrats began dragging out the debate after House Republican leaders inserted into the bill a host of political favors for Republicans and the language on the debt ceiling.

30.   Dornan, who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination, acknowledged he may be the only member of his party who makes an issue of the debt ceiling Thursday.