Reuters - U.S. housing starts slid 3.3 percent in May to their lowest level in more than 17 years, while permits for future construction also fell, signaling more weakness ahead for the battered U.S. housing sector.

AFP - US housing starts slid 3.3 percent in May to the slowest pace in 17 years amid a prolonged slump in the real-estate sector, government data showed Tuesday.

Reuters - The U.S. Senate was expected to vote as soon as Tuesday on a housing market rescue bill to refinance distressed mortgages and create a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sources close to Senate talks said.

Reuters - Goldman Sachs Group Inc has completed a long-awaited rescue of a $7 billion structured investment vehicle, the receivers said on Tuesday, paving the way to clear up more troubled mortgage assets.

Reuters - Soaring energy costs pushed U.S. producer prices up sharply last month and housing starts fell to 17-year low, according to data on Tuesday that spotlighted the Federal Reserve's dilemma of tackling weak growth amid high inflation.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Tuesday as Goldman Sachs warned that banks may need to raise an additional $65 billion, stoking worries about further fallout from the mortgage crisis.

AP - When Robert Willumstad said goodbye to Citigroup Inc. three years ago, he boldly declared he was leaving to run a major company. Now, at 62, he's making good on that promise — at a floundering AIG during the most challenging climate of his four-decade career.

AP - When Robert Willumstad said goodbye to Citigroup Inc. three years ago, he boldly declared he was leaving to run a major company. Now, at 62, he's making good on that promise — at a floundering AIG during the most challenging climate of his four-decade career.

Reuters - The world's biggest insurer, American International Group Inc , replaced CEO Martin Sullivan on Sunday after it suffered two quarters of record losses from risky mortgage bets and its share price more than halved over the past year.

AFP - Countrywide Financial, the largest mortgage lender at the center of the US housing crisis, regularly gave loans on favorable terms to prominent lawmakers and former cabinet members, according to US media.

Reuters - Wachovia Corp shares fell as much as 10.2 percent to their lowest level since 1992 on concern the fourth-largest U.S. bank might cut its dividend a second time, and after another mortgage lender with heavy exposure to California reported a jump in nonperforming assets.