AFP - London shares closed sharply lower on Wednesday, giving up early gains sparked by the overnight rescue of US insurance giant AIG and amid news of takeover talks between Lloyds TSB and struggling mortgage lender HBOS.

Reuters - New rules aimed against abusive naked short selling of stock in all publicly traded companies were issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

Reuters - New rules aimed against abusive naked short selling of stock in all publicly traded companies were issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

Reuters - U.S. gasoline stocks fell to a record low last week, posting the lowest supply level since at least 1990, when the government began issuing weekly inventory data.

Reuters - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index retreated on Wednesday as investor fears over the health of the U.S. financial system lingered and Nortel Networks Corp shares plunged after it cut its revenue forecasts and said it was looking to sell one of its businesses.

AFP - The global financial firestorm tore through markets Wednesday, sending US and European shares plunging following a huge US bailout of insurer AIG and news that British bank HBOS could be taken over.

AFP - Global stock markets hit fresh trouble Wednesday, with early gains made on the unprecedented US government bailout of giant insurer AIG turning to dust as investors wondered where the next blow would fall.

AFP - Russia suspended trading on its two main stock markets for a second day Wednesday as shares nosedived and officials pledged 44 billion dollars to fight collapsing investor confidence.

Reuters - Wall Street's woes continued on Wednesday as a spike in inter-bank lending rates fanned fears about the supply of credit in global markets, pushing stocks lower. The Nasdaq index fell more than 4 percent.

AP - Wall Street plunged again Wednesday, with anxieties about the financial system still running high after the government bailed out insurer American International Group Inc. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped about 300 points.

AP - Wall Street took a step back from the ledge Tuesday, with the Federal Reserve resisting a cut in interest rates and the stock market staging a small rebound one day after a stomach-churning drop.

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

Reuters - Shares of American International Group fell 48 percent in trading after the bell on Tuesday after Bloomberg reported that the U.S. government is considering conservatorship as an option for the insurer.

Reuters - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index rebounded late Tuesday to end down slightly, after sliding to its lowest level in almost two years, as investors fretted over the fate of U.S. insurer American International Group and the price of oil fell to a seven-month low.

AP - Wall Street ended another tumultuous session with a sizable gain Tuesday, partly recovering from its worst sell-off in years after the Federal Reserve said it was keeping interest rates steady. Speculation that troubled insurer American International Group Inc. might come up with a much-needed cash injection made room for many financial stocks to rally.