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This is Money
Global stock markets may have cheered the US Federal Reserve yesterday, but on Wall Street the Fed's unprecedented move to pump $280 billion (140 billion) into global markets was seen as a sure sign that at least one financial institution was struggling to survive. The name on most people's lips was Bear Stearns.
Despite the Federal Reserve's efforts Wall Street fears a big US bank is in trouble
Several hedge funds with assets of more than $4 billion (2 billion) were on the brink of collapse last night or had halted withdrawals, despite moves by the US Federal Reserve this week to ease Americas deteriorating credit crisis with a $200 billion collateral lending facility.
Hedge funds on the brink as US Federal Reserve cash fails to ease crisis
Alistair Darling's footling initiatives yesterday were a sideshow. There is one overwhelming challenge facing the business world and it is not going to be addressed by 10 million more for science teachers or 12 million for women entrepreneurs.
Alistair Darling ignores the looming collapse of financial institutions
Mortgage lenders HBOS and Bradford & Bingley are overhauling their executive remuneration schemes to protect directors' bonuses as their growth prospects worsen amid the credit crunch. Directors at both banks also saw their pay shoot up despite falling profits and tumbling share prices.
HBOS and B&B act to 'protect' bonuses
The crisis at SociGale deepened yesterday as police raided the French bank and arrested a second trader in connection with the 4.9 billion (3.75 billion) losses run up by the rogue trader Je Kerviel.
SocGen plight worsens as second trader questioned on rogue losses
The price of oil soared to a new record level above $110 (54) a barrel yesterday, oblivious to news that stockpiles of crude in the US were higher than expected.
Weak dollar causes oil to surge past $110
Despite the assurances about the resilience of the UK economy and its relatively healthy performance by comparison with other large industrialised nations, there was no room for doubt in what the Chancellor told the nation yesterday: we are set for lower growth, higher inflation and a worse trade balance than was thought possible even six months ago.
These are the economy's darkest days since New Labour came to power