AFP - The world's largest reinsurer, Swiss Re, is out of danger from major exposure to the subprime mortgage crisis, the group's chief executive Jacques Aigrain said in remarks published Tuesday.

AP - Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Congress should view the next few months as a "time out" in the highly charged debate over what to do with mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Reuters - Stocks extended their sharp losses on Tuesday and the S&P 500 fell more than 2 percent after Standard & Poor's said it may cut credit ratings of Lehman Brothers Holdings.

Reuters - Two U.S. Democratic senators on Tuesday called on regulators to revise severance packages for the outgoing chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, calling them lavish.

AFP - The dollar was lower in late trade Tuesday as players took profits on sharp gains made after the US government bailed out two key mortgage backers, helping ease concerns about the economic outlook.

Reuters - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Tuesday he was dismayed by reports that the ousted chief executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could receive multimillion-dollar severance packages.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Monday as investors bet Washington's bailout of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would stabilize the U.S. housing sector and calm jittery world financial markets.