* "You probably should not forecast. But if you do forecast, never do it in writing. But if you do put it in writing, revise your forecast often."--Edward Altman, Max L. Heine professor of finance at New York University, referring to his belief that the default rate has peaked.
* "Acts of greed have a much larger impact on the market than acts of terror."--Laura Unger, former acting chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, recounting the events of last year and their effect on the market.
* During a discussion of the distressed settlement issue, speakers cited the increased counter-party risks associated with the backlog of open trades and mentioned possible solutions for dealing with the risk. "Stop trading with people you don't trust; that's my solution," one dealer said. A buysider quickly responded, "I wouldn't do any trades then."