Seattle Times (10/07/13) Donna Cassata

The government shutdown has begun its second week with no forseeable end and indications that the U.S. is closer to the first default in the country’s history as House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) rules out any measure to increase borrowing authority without concessions from President Obama. On Monday, Washington will be keeping a close eye on the financial markets to see if this latest round of brinksmanship rattles Wall Street and global economies only 10 days before the threat of imminent default. Boehner insists that the White House negotiate if it wants to end the shutdown and avert a default that could trigger a financial crisis.