1.   Also by the first quarter of next year, the outlook on a government default could be more uncertain.

2.   Although the chance of an actual government default is considered small, market participants would rather see a zero chance.

3.   And with threats of a United States government default circulating in Washington, gold is attracting even more interest for its role as a safe haven in uncertain times.

4.   At the same time, Republicans are contemplating a new strategy that could force a government default next month.

5.   But it was the background talk of government default that caused most of the uneasiness.

6.   Clinton also forced congressional Republicans to back off the threat of government default and pass an increase in the federal debt limit, without conceding anything.

7.   Clinton met with Rubin yesterday in the Oval Office and went over the measures the secretary proposed to avoid a government default.

8.   He avoided a currency devaluation in China, dealt with the Russian government default, contained an incipient crisis in Brazil and liquidated a huge American hedge fund.

9.   House Speaker Newt Gingrich retreated today from his hard-line comments yesterday that he would let the federal government default on its debt unless Democrats agreed to Republican budget cuts.

10.   House Speaker Newt Gingrich retreated from his hard-line comments yesterday that he would let the federal government default on its debt unless Democrats agreed to Republican budget cuts.