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Europe acts to strengthen banks Europe acts to strengthen banks
(about 6 hours later)
Major European economies have announced multi-billion euro rescue schemes to shore up their banks.Major European economies have announced multi-billion euro rescue schemes to shore up their banks.
Germany has approved a package worth up to 500bn euros (£393bn; $683bn), France will spend about 350bn euros and Spain has set aside 100bn euros.Germany has approved a package worth up to 500bn euros (£393bn; $683bn), France will spend about 350bn euros and Spain has set aside 100bn euros.
The bulk of this money will be used to guarantee lending between banks - part of a plan agreed to this weekend by the 15 nations that use the euro.The bulk of this money will be used to guarantee lending between banks - part of a plan agreed to this weekend by the 15 nations that use the euro.
Meanwhile, President George W Bush said nations were taking "decisive action".Meanwhile, President George W Bush said nations were taking "decisive action".
Speaking with Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, he said the US was continuing to work closely with Europe.Speaking with Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, he said the US was continuing to work closely with Europe.
The cash injection by France, German and Spain was echoed by similar moves by Austria and Italy.The cash injection by France, German and Spain was echoed by similar moves by Austria and Italy.
Austria is to spend up to 85m euros, while the Italian government pledged to inject as much money as needed without giving any figures.Austria is to spend up to 85m euros, while the Italian government pledged to inject as much money as needed without giving any figures.
France and Germany will also use the cash to take stakes in ailing banks.France and Germany will also use the cash to take stakes in ailing banks.
The announcements helped to lift investor confidence, with stock markets rising worldwide.The announcements helped to lift investor confidence, with stock markets rising worldwide.
Two-fold planTwo-fold plan
The two-fold plan involves guaranteeing lending between banks and taking stakes in financial institutions - similar to the bank rescue in the UK announced last week.The two-fold plan involves guaranteeing lending between banks and taking stakes in financial institutions - similar to the bank rescue in the UK announced last week.
This is a massive engagement French President Nicolas Sarkozy Markets surge after crisis talksWill the rescue efforts work?This is a massive engagement French President Nicolas Sarkozy Markets surge after crisis talksWill the rescue efforts work?
The US is also getting ready follow in Europe's footsteps and purchase stakes in financial institutions.The US is also getting ready follow in Europe's footsteps and purchase stakes in financial institutions.
"We are designing a standardised programme to purchase equity in a broad array of financial institutions," said Neel Kashkari, the treasury official in charge of the US government's $700bn bail-out package."We are designing a standardised programme to purchase equity in a broad array of financial institutions," said Neel Kashkari, the treasury official in charge of the US government's $700bn bail-out package.
Monday's other key developments included:
  • The UK government said it would inject up to £37bn of taxpayers cash into Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and HBOS
  • US shares, tracking earlier gains in Europe and Asia, rose strongly in early trading as investors welcomed fresh efforts by global leaders to end the recent financial turmoil
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  • The world's major central banks said they would offer financial institutions an unlimited amount of short-term dollar loans to help stem the crisis
  • The Icelandic stock exchange said share trading would remain suspended until Tuesday because of continuing "unusual market conditions".
Monday's other key developments included:
  • The UK government said it would inject up to £37bn of taxpayers cash into Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and HBOS
  • US shares, tracking earlier gains in Europe and Asia, rocketed 11% as investors welcomed fresh efforts by global leaders to end the recent financial turmoil
  • The world's major central banks said they would offer financial institutions an unlimited amount of short-term dollar loans to help stem the crisis
  • The Icelandic stock exchange said share trading would remain suspended until Tuesday because of continuing "unusual market conditions".
'Massive''Massive'
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would offer up to 40bn euros to provide banks with the financing they needed via a public company in which the state would the only shareholder.French President Nicolas Sarkozy said France would offer up to 40bn euros to provide banks with the financing they needed via a public company in which the state would the only shareholder.
"This is a massive engagement," he said."This is a massive engagement," he said.
He added that no financial institution would be allowed to collapse.He added that no financial institution would be allowed to collapse.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the measures being taken would only work if they were accompanied by more robust regulation that will curb "market excesses."German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the measures being taken would only work if they were accompanied by more robust regulation that will curb "market excesses."
"The package passed by the German government will serve the financial system and ought to serve to protect the citizens and not just serve to protect the banking system," she said."The package passed by the German government will serve the financial system and ought to serve to protect the citizens and not just serve to protect the banking system," she said.
FundFund
Unlike France, Germany and Britain, Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that Spain did not need to take stakes in any banks because its banks were solvent.Unlike France, Germany and Britain, Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that Spain did not need to take stakes in any banks because its banks were solvent.
However, last week the Spanish government announced the creation of a 30bn euro fund to buy assets from Spanish banks to help stabilise the lending industry and unfreeze credit.However, last week the Spanish government announced the creation of a 30bn euro fund to buy assets from Spanish banks to help stabilise the lending industry and unfreeze credit.
At present banks are reluctant or unable to loan cash to fellow financial institutions due to fears about whether the money will be paid back.At present banks are reluctant or unable to loan cash to fellow financial institutions due to fears about whether the money will be paid back.
It is this lending between banks that traditionally lubricates the banking system, freeing up cash for lending to private individuals and other firms.It is this lending between banks that traditionally lubricates the banking system, freeing up cash for lending to private individuals and other firms.