The notion that the failure of even one big bond insurer might touch off a chain reaction of losses across the financial world has unnerved Wall Street and Washington.

• 有一种观念认为，甚至一个大型联合保险公司的经营不善都有可能使整个金融界发生一连串的损失，这种观念使得华尔街和华盛顿感到不安。