Reuters - Stocks fell on Friday as fears about the survival of investment bank Lehman Brothers and the possibility of more mortgage-related losses at American International Group weighed on financial shares.

Reuters - Washington Mutual Inc's revelation that it plans another big write-down for soured loans but has enough capital to survive soothed some analysts and investors who were fearful that the housing crisis might cripple the largest U.S. savings and loan.

Reuters - Sales at U.S. retail stores fell for a second straight month in August as consumers facing a tough job market cut spending, but declining gasoline prices seemed to lift their spirits in September.

Reuters - JPMorgan Chase & Co is in advanced discussions to acquire Washington Mutual Inc , a source familiar with the discussions said on Friday.

Reuters - Concern that Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc may fail to find a buyer because the U.S. government is reluctant to provide financial backing sent the firm's shares down to a 14-year low on Friday.

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.