Securities Lawsuits Leapt in '08

Securities-fraud lawsuits increased in 2008 due largely to a rash of filings against financial firms by investors who sustained losses from the mortgage meltdown.

Rebound Wrinkle: Recession

Some investors have put aside standard models and are considering what to do if markets and the economy remain troubled for a sustained period.

Wall Streeters Flock to IndyMac

A lot of Wall Street's "smartest money" has invested in the latest iteration of IndyMac Bank.

• Heard on the Street: Is the IndyMac Deal a Little Too Sweet?

Treasury Unveils Rescue Guidelines

The Treasury Department released guidelines of the program it used under a $700 billion bailout package to justify its $20 billion rescue of Citigroup and guidelines for a new insurance program for troubled assets.

High-Profile Investors to Buy IndyMac

A team of private investors including affiliates of Christopher Flowers, George Soros and Michael Dell reached a preliminary deal to buy the remains of IndyMac and will contribute $1.3 billion in capital toward a purchase.

• What Does IndyMac Owe Fannie?
• Deal Journal: Profile of CEO Mnuchin

Bank-Failure Central? Alpharetta, Ga.

Alpharetta, Ga., is a suburb of wide boulevards, sleepy cul-de-sacs and bustling red-brick shopping centers. It also is the bank-failure capital of the U.S.

Banks Complete Deals

Bank of America, Wells Fargo and PNC have completed acquisitions of three rivals.

AIG Seeks Change on Loan Terms

AIG is seeking permission to change certain terms of its $60 billion government loan.

Banks to Post a Rare Quarterly Loss

Banks and savings institutions in the U.S. appear headed for their first overall quarterly loss since 1990 as troubled loans pile up.

Lehman's Chaotic Filing Destroyed Billions in Value

As much as $75 billion of Lehman Brothers value was destroyed by the chaotic form of its bankruptcy filing in September, according to an internal analysis.

Banks Told: Lend More, Save More

Bankers are complaining about mixed signals from U.S. regulators, who want them to lend more but build up capital to protect against losses.

• Deal Journal: Citigroup's M&A Curse or Losing Streak

AIG Sells $16 Billion in CDOs

AIG said that a financing entity has purchased an additional $16 billion in collateralized debt obligations insured by the insurance giant through credit-default swap contracts.

U.K. Market Regulator Toughens Approach

Britain's markets regulator is becoming more demanding and may impose costlier rules on banks, abandoning its previous light touch.

European Banks Gird
for 'The Year of Reckoning'

European banks are bracing for a difficult 2009 as a rising tide of corporate bankruptcies adds to their problems with bad mortgage and credit-card loans.

Global Crisis Resists Central-Bank Moves

Central banks around the world cut rates a day after the Fed's move, and Japan, the U.K. and euro-zone economies may follow suit.