Category: World

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 […]

LONDON, September 28, 2008 (AFP) – Spanish banking giant Santander said Monday it will take over the retail deposits and branches of Bradford & Bingley ahead of the expected nationalisation of the British bank. A spokesman for Santander, which owns British bank Abbey and is in the process of buying Alliance and Liecester, said: “The […]

BRUSSELS, September 28, 2008 (AFP) – The Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg governments agreed Sunday to partially nationalise Fortis in a 11.2 billion euro bailout to keep it from becoming the latest victim of the US-born financial crisis. Top officials from the three countries and the European Central Bank hastily hammered out a rescue over the […]

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2008 (AFP) – US lawmakers Sunday posted on the Internet their hastily-crafted draft legislation to rescue the country’s troubled financial sector, saying the unusual step was taken in the spirit of openness. The full text of the bill, more than 100 pages, is available at the websites of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi […]

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 […]