Wells Closing In on Deal to Buy Wachovia

Analysis of gov't data reveals sources of the economic meltdown

(NEWSER) - Some 21 of the top 25 subprime lenders that triggered the global economic collapse were either owned or financed by banks that ended up needing bailouts, an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity finds. Among the backers, who make huge profits on the subprime business, were Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and AIG. More»

Citigroup plans to sue over breach of contract, but will not interfere

(AP) - Federal antitrust regulators cleared Wells Fargo's $11.7 billion acquisition of Wachovia Corp. today, capping a weeklong battle for the Charlotte, NC-based bank. The rapid approval comes a day after Citigroup walked away from its acquisition effort. Citigroup plans to seek $60 billion in damages for breach of contract but has decided not to challenge the Wells Fargo-Wachovia deal in court, the AP reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Citigroup said today it's going to let Wells Fargo go ahead with its acquisition of Wachovia, the Wall Street Journal reports. But all's not chummy in the banking world: Citigroup, which charges that Wachovia illegally backed out of a deal to accept a sweeter offer from Wells Fargo, is still going to sue for billions in damages. More»

Fed brokers cool-off, banks may be working out carve-up deal

(NEWSER) - Citigroup and Wells Fargo have agreed to back off from their legal tug-of-war over Wachovia until tomorrow, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The Fed-brokered agreement comes after days of furious legal wrangling and a $60 billion lawsuit filed by Citigroup against both Wells and Wachovia yesterday. Insiders say Citigroup and Wells may reach a deal to carve up the struggling bank. More»

'This is just about fear right now'

(NEWSER) - Stocks continued downward today, with the Dow falling a record 782 points, the Wall Street Journal reports, and settling mid-afternoon around 9,571, below 10,000 for the first time since October 2004. “This is just about fear right now, and whether stocks are going to close down 200 or 900 points,” said one trader. All 30 of the index's stocks were in the red. More»