NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks fell sharply in early trading Monday as concerns about the European debt crisis took the edge off a strong weekend of holiday sales.

美股周一开盘下跌，外界担忧欧洲债务危机持续蔓延，抵消了美国节日季周末销售额表现强劲的影响。

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Although many other big firms resisted the temptation to over-borrow, developers gorged on cheap debt and built bigger and swankier hotels as if the whole world were planning a holiday in Las Vegas.

尽管其它许多公司经受住了诱惑，没有大举借贷，但房产开发商们大肆借贷，建造时髦的高楼大厦，就好象全世界都准备在拉斯维加斯度假一样。

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A spokesman said the woman was questioned over the Christmas holiday and admitted she made up the story because she owed a colleague 25 euros (17 pounds) and did not have the money to pay her debt.

警方一位发言人表示，他们在圣诞节那天对这名女子进行了审问，后者最终承认整个故事都是她自己一手编造出来的，而事情的起因在于她欠该快餐店内某个同事25欧元(17英镑)可眼下又无力偿还这笔债务。

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Tax refunds are hardly ever tucked away for a rainy day: they are generally used to pay off debt (often from holiday spending) or to make large purchases.

FORBES: As We Creep Closer To The Debt Ceiling Limit, Is Your Tax Refund At Risk?

Plouffe this morning, and also Dan Pfeiffer tweeting, were talking about the Boehner bill and how it would mean dealing with the debt ceiling over the Christmas holiday season, which is an important time for the economy.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Cramdown is already allowed for other forms of consumer debt, such as mortgages on holiday homes.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus