AP - World stock markets swooned again Tuesday as the global financial crisis caused investors to worry that asset prices have yet to hit rock bottom.

AFP - The FTSE index was down 3.43 percent to 5025.6 points as traders continued to react to the global panic caused by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers bank.

AP - Asian stock markets tumbled Tuesday as the collapse of Lehman Brothers and takeover of Merrill Lynch spurred fears of a global financial crisis. European markets, which fell sharply Monday, extended losses in early trading.

AFP - Lehman Brothers declared itself bankrupt Monday and Wall Street rival Merrill Lynch had to be taken over in a new financial earthquake that sent global markets into a slump.

AFP - London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares plunged 5.25% in midday trade on Monday following the collapse of US investment giant Lehman Brothers.

AFP - London shares closed lower on Monday as the FTSE suffered repurcussions from the global crisis caused by the filing of bankruptcy by US banking giant Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch's imminent purchase by Bank of America..

AFP - London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares slid 2.28 percent at the start of trading on Monday straight after falling by 0.72 percent at the open, following the collapse of US investment giant Lehman Brothers.

AFP - Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy Monday and Merrill Lynch announced a rescue sale in a series of dramas in the US financial system which hit European stocks as soon as trading began.

AFP - The crisis roiling the financial sector will probably grind on for some time, but European banks should be able to avert serious trouble, EU finance chiefs said.

AFP - EU finance ministers backed plans on Saturday to hike public lending to credit-starved small and mid-sized firms, hoping to give the faltering European economy a boost.

AFP - EU finance ministers clashed Saturday on whether to allow especially reduced sales tax rates for targeted services like restaurant meals or haircuts with Germany leading opposition to the idea.

AFP - EU finance ministers clashed Saturday on whether to shake up European sales tax rules to allow especially reduced rates for targetted services and products.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose strongly Friday on prospects that beleaguered US investment bank Lehman Brothers might soon be saved and a report that it was in rescue talks, traders said.