AFP - Shareholders of Countrywide Financial, the largest US mortgage lender at the center of the housing crisis, approved its sale Wednesday to Bank of America, marking the latest shakeup in the troubled sector.

Reuters - Countrywide Financial Corp was sued for alleged deceptive mortgage lending by officials in its home state of California and in Illinois on Wednesday, the same day its shareholders approved the company's takeover by Bank of America Corp .

Reuters - The Senate was expected to approve as soon as Wednesday the biggest government program yet to tackle a deep housing market slump feared to be dragging the economy into recession.

AP - The nation's biggest mortgage lender engaged in "unfair and deceptive" practices to get homeowners to apply for risky mortgages far beyond their means, according to a civil lawsuit Illinois' attorney general planned to file Wednesday.

AP - Bank of America Corp.'s takeover of Countrywide Financial Corp. could be wrapped up as early as next week, but first it must clear one last hurdle — getting the OK from the struggling mortgage lender's shareholders.

Reuters - The Illinois attorney general's office plans to sue Countrywide Financial Corp and Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo on Wednesday, claiming the troubled mortgage lender engaged in deceptive trade practices.

Reuters - Eastman Kodak Co said on Tuesday it would buy back up to $1 billion of its stock, driving the photography company's share price up nearly 17 percent from historical lows.

Reuters - U.S. Senate backers of a housing bill that the White House opposes cleared a procedural hurdle on Tuesday, moving toward expected passage of the measure that would create a multi-billion dollar mortgage refinancing fund.

Reuters - Countrywide Financial Corp shareholders vote on Wednesday to approve the largest U.S. mortgage lender's purchase by Bank of America Corp, marking the demise of the company perhaps most closely associated with the nation's housing bubble and subsequent collapse.

Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) -The Dow and the S&P 500 ended effectively unchanged on Monday in thin trade as renewed concerns about the outlook for financial shares offset gains in energy stocks and news of a $4.4 billion takeover in the agricultural sector.