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Japan continues plunge in shares Asia continues plunge in shares
(about 1 hour later)
Asian stock markets have opened down sharply amid investor panic that global government action might not be enough to stem the financial crisis.Asian stock markets have opened down sharply amid investor panic that global government action might not be enough to stem the financial crisis.
Japan's Nikkei index plunged more than 5% in 30 minutes, shattering the psychological 10,000-point barrier for the first time in nearly five years. Japan's Nikkei index plunged more than 5% - shattering the psychological 10,000-point barrier for the first time in nearly five years - before rallying.
South Korea and Australia also fell. On Monday, the main US index was down 8% at one point before closing down 3%. Share prices in China, Taiwan and South Korea also dropped. The main US index earlier fell 8% before bouncing back.
EU finance ministers are to meet in Luxembourg later to discuss the crisis.EU finance ministers are to meet in Luxembourg later to discuss the crisis.
The continued financial turmoil came despite a $700bn (£398bn) US bank bail-out, and efforts by several European governments to protect their banks. Having tumbled 5% on Monday, China's main stock index opened more than 3% lower on Tuesday.
Taiwanese stocks dropped nearly 3% in early trading, while Australia's financial market also suffered.
In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei was down 2.3% by 0140 GMT. Companies relying on exports have been hardest hit by the latest plunge, with shares in the electronics giant Sony trading at their lowest price for five years.
The continued financial turmoil comes despite a $700bn (£398bn) US bank bail-out, and efforts by several European and Asian governments to protect their banks.
US President George W Bush has said it will take some time for the rescue plan to restore confidence to the financial system.US President George W Bush has said it will take some time for the rescue plan to restore confidence to the financial system.
Apocalyptic tone 'Apocalyptic tone'
EU leaders have issued a joint statement saying they would take the necessary measures to protect both Europe's banking system and individual depositors.EU leaders have issued a joint statement saying they would take the necessary measures to protect both Europe's banking system and individual depositors.
The strains threatening Europe's economies have been felt most acutely in Iceland, where Prime Minister Gier Haarde made a national address warning his country it faced national bankruptcy.The strains threatening Europe's economies have been felt most acutely in Iceland, where Prime Minister Gier Haarde made a national address warning his country it faced national bankruptcy.
Stock markets are falling... and it's the troubles of Europe's banks, and the messy response of the authorities, that's to blame Robert PestonBBC business editor Read Robert's blogInteractive map: How European governments have reactedStock markets are falling... and it's the troubles of Europe's banks, and the messy response of the authorities, that's to blame Robert PestonBBC business editor Read Robert's blogInteractive map: How European governments have reacted
The BBC's Ray Furlong in Reykjavik said the tone was, at times, apocalyptic.The BBC's Ray Furlong in Reykjavik said the tone was, at times, apocalyptic.
In a late-night session, parliament passed emergency legislation to shore up the country's banking system after the national currency, the krona, fell 30% against the euro on Monday.In a late-night session, parliament passed emergency legislation to shore up the country's banking system after the national currency, the krona, fell 30% against the euro on Monday.
In the US, both Mr Bush and Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, are scheduled to speak later about the ongoing economic crisis.In the US, both Mr Bush and Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, are scheduled to speak later about the ongoing economic crisis.
As one of the first effects of the $700bn bail-out bill passed late last week, the Federal Reserve announced it would start paying interest on the reserves that banks are forced to deposit at the central bank.As one of the first effects of the $700bn bail-out bill passed late last week, the Federal Reserve announced it would start paying interest on the reserves that banks are forced to deposit at the central bank.
Meanwhile, Congress has begun hearings into the cause of the financial meltdown that triggered the rescue plan.Meanwhile, Congress has begun hearings into the cause of the financial meltdown that triggered the rescue plan.
Richard Fuld, the head of collapsed US investment bank Lehman Brothers, told lawmakers he took full responsibility for its collapse, but wondered why the government did not come to the rescue.Richard Fuld, the head of collapsed US investment bank Lehman Brothers, told lawmakers he took full responsibility for its collapse, but wondered why the government did not come to the rescue.
Investors have not been bowled over by government intervention
He said federal regulators knew his firm had, like others, been caught up in a financial tsunami emanating from the mortgage markets.He said federal regulators knew his firm had, like others, been caught up in a financial tsunami emanating from the mortgage markets.
But Henry Waxman, chairman of Congress's investigating panel, said Mr Fuld had profited from taking risks with other people's money, and that taxpayers were having to bail out the economy as a result.
The day after Lehman filed for bankruptcy, the government bailed out the insurance giant AIG, saying it was too big to fail. AIG executives are also testifying.The day after Lehman filed for bankruptcy, the government bailed out the insurance giant AIG, saying it was too big to fail. AIG executives are also testifying.
The FBI is looking at Lehman, AIG and US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as part of a probe into possible corporate fraud.The FBI is looking at Lehman, AIG and US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as part of a probe into possible corporate fraud.
Also on Monday, the Federal Reserve approved a move by Mitsubishi, Japan's largest bank, to purchase a 25% stake in ailing US bank Morgan Stanley.
Power cut-offs
Meanwhile US utility companies reported a record rise in the number of customers defaulting on their gas and electricity bills.Meanwhile US utility companies reported a record rise in the number of customers defaulting on their gas and electricity bills.
The largest increase in power cut-offs were in the states of Michigan (22%) and New York (17%), although rises were also reported in Pennsylvania, Florida and California.The largest increase in power cut-offs were in the states of Michigan (22%) and New York (17%), although rises were also reported in Pennsylvania, Florida and California.
Investors have not been bowled over by government intervention 'Political commitment'
Congress recently doubled federal funds to help poor people cope with home heating costs, but critics say the $5bn available is insufficient. Across Europe, central banks have already offered more than $74bn in short-term loans to banks in an attempt to make cash available.
An annual report on global stability is due to be published on Tuesday by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn has warned countries not to react alone to the financial crisis. But while the idea of a European fund to rescue troubled banks has been floated, it has attracted too little support to go any further, says the BBC's economics correspondent Andrew Walker in Washington.
Central banks across Europe have already offered more than $74bn in short-term loans to banks in an attempt to make cash available. He also says the financial crisis will come under the microscope at the International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington in the next week.
A banking reform bill is due to go before the UK parliament while German lawmakers are scheduled to hold an emergency session. Its analysts will say the global economy has been sandbagged by high commodity prices, the housing slump and the growing financial crisis.
European investors had been alarmed on Monday by Germany's increased 50bn-euro ($68bn; £38.7bn) bail-out of Hypo Real Estate, the country's second-biggest commercial property lender, analysts said. IMF economists have already warned of an increased risk of a severe and protracted economic downturn.
Germany also appeared to announce an unlimited guarantee for private savings - though it later said this was not the case and it had instead given only a "political commitment" that savers would not lose deposits. On Tuesday a banking reform bill is due to go before the UK parliament while German lawmakers are scheduled to hold an emergency session.
Meanwhile Pope Benedict XVI said the global financial crisis showed the futility of money and ambition. Germany has alarmed European investors with its increased 50bn-euro ($68bn; £38.7bn) bail-out of Hypo Real Estate, the country's second-biggest commercial property lender.
It also appeared to announce an unlimited guarantee for private savings - though it later said this was not the case and it had instead given only a "political commitment" that savers would not lose deposits.