Articles

UPDATE: Dow leaps 490 points on moves by world banks

Central banks around the world worked Wednesday to give banks easier access to dollars, jolting stock markets and easing fears of a global credit crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average had its biggest daily gain since March 2009.

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Portugal’s economic crisis deepens as big strike hits

Portugal’s efforts to climb out of its economic crisis suffered a double setback Thursday as its credit rating was downgraded to junk status and a major strike gave voice to broad public outrage over austerity measures that have squeezed living standards.

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Lawmakers approve big Wall Street revamp

Bill headed for Obama's desk would reform financial regulation in effort to protect consumers, curb risks, boost surveillance
of threats to markets, and give regulators more emergency powers to avoid future bank bailouts.

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First Financial gets sweet deal on Irwin Financial’s bank assets

It’s good to be among the favored few, those blessed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to scoop up the remnants
of failed banks. Because it was on the FDIC list of approved buyers, Cincinnati-based First Financial Bancorp
was able to acquire Columbus, Ind.-based Irwin Financial Corp.’s banking operations under terms
that would make any deal-maker proud.

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FDIC fee hitting small banks particularly hard

Fees imposed on U.S. banks to rebuild a Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. fund nearly depleted by scores of bank failures is
expected to sap profits of small financial institutions. Community banks with less income than their larger counterparts are
particularly at risk of having their 2009 earnings erased by the charges after an emergency fee on banks took effect June
30.

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