Washington | House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s optimism that White House and Republican negotiators would reach a deal in time to avert a potentially catastrophic default failed to mollify analysts as the US was put on a ratings watch late on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
The California Republican said after a four-hour meeting between his and President Joe Biden’s hand-picked negotiators that a deal was possible before June 1, the date by which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the US could run out of money to pay its bills.
