AP - Washington Mutual Inc. said Thursday it will take another multibillion write-down for bad bets on mortgage securities but insisted it has adequate capital to fund its operations amid concern about the thrift's financial stability.

AP - World stock markets fell sharply Thursday as troubles at U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers fanned fears of more credit-market losses and drove down financial company shares across the region.

Reuters - Shares of General Motors Corp and Ford Motor Co jumped on Thursday as oil prices dropped to near $100 per barrel and analysts bet a potential $25 billion in federal loans would help the struggling U.S. automakers survive a deep industry downturn.

Reuters - Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) is poised to swoop on rival Postbank (DPBGn.DE) in a two-part takeover valuing the retail lender at roughly $13 billion, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Reuters - Fears that American International Group Inc's large mortgage exposure could trigger another round of losses has rankled investors so much that the insurer has lost its iron grip as the world's industry leader by market value.

Reuters - Washington Mutual Inc was downgraded to below investment-grade status by Moody's Investors Service, after the largest U.S. savings and loan projected a $4.5 billion third-quarter increase in reserves for bad loans but said it has more than enough capital.

Reuters - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc was forced into talks about a possible sale after the Wall Street investment bank's shares plunged more than 40 percent on Thursday, raising questions about its survival.

Reuters - Home loans to higher-risk borrowers fell sharply in 2007, as did some riskier practices such as layering "piggyback" mortgages to finance home purchases, U.S. regulators said in a report on Thursday.

Reuters - Lehman Brothers tumbled on Thursday after several brokers downgraded the shares on the investment bank and forecast further losses due to business uncertainty.

Reuters - Washington Mutual Inc shares sank below $2 for the first time since 1990 as anxiety grew about the largest U.S. savings and loan's mortgage losses, capital needs and survival prospects.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Thursday in choppy trade as concerns about the financial sector dulled the allure of riskier assets, offsetting falling oil prices.

Reuters - Contrary to market speculation, Goldman Sachs Group Inc is not pursuing an acquisition of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , reflecting concerns that integrating two investment banks would be too disruptive, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Reuters - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's survival was called into question as its chief executive scrambled to sell assets to cover losses from toxic real estate investments, sending shares down as much as 46 percent.