AFP - Wachovia Corp named US Treasury Department Under Secretary Robert Steel as its new chief executive Wednesday after the commercial banking giant ousted its previous CEO over hefty mortgage-related losses.

AP - Wall Street finished sharply higher Tuesday as oil prices dropped for the second straight day and investors were encouraged by the possibility of more help for the ailing financial system. The Dow Jones industrials gained more than 150 points, and all the major indexes were up more than 1 percent.

AP - The Federal Reserve will issue new rules next week aimed at protecting future homebuyers from dubious lending practices, its most sweeping response to a housing crisis that has propelled foreclosures to record highs.

Reuters - Mortgage lender IndyMac Bancorp Inc said on Tuesday depositors had been withdrawing cash at an "elevated" pace since a key U.S. senator questioned its ability to survive the housing crisis.

AP - Wall Street struggled to notch a gain Tuesday amid sinking oil prices, with investors still jittery about the ailing financial system and weak economy ahead of second-quarter earnings.

Reuters - Shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , the two largest providers of U.S. mortgage finance, rose after their regulator said on Tuesday that they should have adequate returns to raise capital.

AP - The Federal Reserve will issue new rules next week aimed at protecting future homebuyers from dubious lending practices, its most sweeping response to a housing crisis that has propelled foreclosures to record highs.

Reuters - IndyMac Bancorp Inc on Tuesday said depositors were withdrawing cash at an "elevated" pace after a prominent U.S. senator recently questioned the big mortgage lender's ability to survive the U.S. housing crisis.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Monday on concerns that the top two mortgage providers would have to raise even more capital, severely devaluing existing shareholders' stakes, while big energy companies fell along with oil prices.