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Financial News

Citigroup Board Said to Meet to Discuss Bank's Options After Stock Plunges Citigroup Inc.'s board meets today to discuss the bank's options after Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit's efforts to rebuild investor confidence failed to halt the stock's descent to a 15-year low, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

European Stocks Rise, Led by Banks; U.S. Index Futures, Asian Shares Gain Stocks in Europe and Asia and U.S. index futures rose as speculation Citigroup Inc. may be up for sale and the cheapest commodity shares on record spurred rallies in banks and raw-material producers.

Obama Transition Team Said to Weigh Prepackaged Bankruptcy for Automakers President-Elect Barack Obama‘s transition team is exploring a swift, prepackaged bankruptcy for automakers as a possible solution to the industry’s financial crisis, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Developing Nations' Borrowing Costs Jump in Week, Hastening IMF Bailouts Developing nations' borrowing costs rose the most in a month this week, hampering the ability of governments to refinance $1.2 trillion of short-term debt and hastening appeals for international bailouts.

Global Carmaker Rescues May Produce `Stones-and-Glass-Houses' Trade Spats A U.S.-triggered spate of global carmaker-bailout proposals may spark trade disputes over whether the Americans are unfairly trying to subsidize their industry or just making up for state aid foreign rivals already enjoy.

BNP Paribas May Cut Investment-Bank Bonuses More Than 70% as Profit Slumps BNP Paribas SA, Europe's third- biggest bank, may cut bonuses by more than 70 percent at its corporate and investment bank after profit plunged in the first three quarters of the year.

General News

Pirates Say $25 Million Ransom for Saudi Supertanker Must Be Paid `Soon' Somali pirates demanded $25 million in ransom for an oil-laden Saudi supertanker seized off the East African coast, and called on its owners to pay up ``soon.''

U.S. Attorney General Mukasey Conscious, Alert in Hospital After Collapse U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed while giving a speech in Washington last night and was taken to a hospital, where a spokesman said he was ``conscious, conversant and alert.''

APEC Leaders Meet to Push Trade Deals, Back G-20's Anti-Protectionism Call Leaders from 21 Pacific Rim nations will push for more trade accords when they meet this weekend, seeking to stem any turn toward protectionism amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

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