31.   A breakdown in the budget talks could roil U.S. stocks and bonds.

32.   A bipartisan coalition of senators met Thursday with President Clinton in an attempt to jumpstart stalled budget talks.

33.   A lack of progress in the budget talks in Washington contributed to the drop.

34.   A lack of progress in the budget talks in Washington contributed to the price drop.

35.   A little less than an hour later, Gingrich accused the Democrats and Clinton of being obstructionists in the budget talks.

36.   A sense of urgency surrounded budget talks because local school districts were preparing to send out tax bills next Tuesday.

37.   A temporary funding measure -- tied to the budget talks as well as a half-dozen unresolved federal spending bills -- expires at midnight Friday.

38.   After budget talks were called off late in the day, shares of interest-rate sensitive companies pared their gains.

39.   Airline stocks rose after major carriers got the outcome they sought in the government budget talks.