Category: World

BERLIN, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – Berlin has joined a consortium of banks to rescue a stricken property lender, the government said on Monday, in the latest state-sponsored European rescue of a casualty of the US financial crisis. Berlin has agreed to guarantee a 35-billion-euro (50-billion-dollar) credit line being provided to Hypo Real Estate by […]

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – US authorities said Monday they had facilitated a takeover of Wachovia’s banking operations by Citigroup Inc.in a deal that gives the government a stake in one of the nation’s biggest banks. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.made the announcement that further reshapes the troubled US banking sector saddled with heavy […]

WASHINGTON, September 28, 2008 (AFP) – The House of Representatives Saturday passed a civilian nuclear pact with India that lifts a three decade-old ban on civilian nuclear trade with India. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 The agreement, passed by a 298-117 vote, […]

SINGAPORE, September 28, 2008 (AFP) – “Bailout” is back as a buzzword 11 years after the Asian financial crisis, but this time the tables are turned: the US is scrambling to rescue ailing banks while a healthy Asia watches. The ramparts built after the 1997-1998 Asian crisis helped blunt the impact of turbulence that ripped […]

LONDON, September 27, 2008 (AFP) – British mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley, which has been hit by a housing downturn and weakness in the wider economy, may be nationalised, newspapers reported Saturday. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail newspapers […]

WASHINGTON, September 27, 2008 (AFP) – Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain landed a knockout blow in their first presidential debate late Friday, but the youthful Democrat may have just scored a points victory by standing his own. Each campaign trumpeted favorable reviews from the instant punditry of television talking heads as Republican McCain played […]

WASHINGTON, September 27, 2008 (AFP) – US lawmakers held urgent negotiations on Saturday in a bid to agree a 700-billion dollar Wall Street bailout before markets reopen after the weekend, voicing optimism a deal was within reach. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 […]

TOKYO, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s inflation rate stayed at a decade high of 2.4 percent in August as soaring energy costs continued to pressure Asia’s largest economy, official figures showed Friday. Core prices rose for an 11th straight month, and at the same pace as in July, when inflation was the fastest since […]

WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Republicans stymied a late-night session of talks designed to resurrect an enormous economic bailout package but new negotiations will be held in the morning, a top Democrat said late Thursday. Barney Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives financial services committee, said a House Republican introduced an alternative plan […]

THE HAGUE, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – Shares in Belgian-Dutch bank Fortis fell more than 12 percent Friday, having lost some 20 percent at one stage the previous day despite its denial that it faced liquidity problems. Press reports Friday said the giant banking group was looking at asset sales of up to 10 billion […]

WASHINGTON, September 26, 2008 (AFP) – The oldest rocks on Earth have been discovered in Canada, offering scientists a glimpse at the origins of the planet, announced scientists in a study to be published Friday. The rocks, found in a belt of ancient bedrock in Quebec, are estimated to be 4.28 billion years old. The […]

HONG KONG, September 25, 2008 (AFP) – The run on Hong Kong’s Bank of East Asia subsided on Thursday, as banking authorities soothed savers’ concerns that Wall Street’s financial crisis had spread to the city. Hundreds of customers queued for a second day across the city before branches opened as they scrambled to get their […]