Financial markets extended their declines Tuesday, with the Dow falling more than 150 points, as investors worried that lawmakers were beginning to doubt the necessity of a broad government bailout for financial institutions as a way to revive ailing credit markets. ...more

September 24, 2008

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke bluntly warned reluctant lawmakers Tuesday they risk a recession with higher unemployment and increased home foreclosures unless they act on the Bush administration's $700 billion plan to bail out the financial industry. ...more

September 23, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration sketched out a multifaceted effort on Friday to confront the worst U.S. financial crisis in decades, outlining a program that could cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars to buy up bad mortgages and other toxic debt that has unhinged Wall Street. ...more

September 19, 2008

In another breathtaking display of government intervention, top officials at the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve began discussing with congressional leaders a plan to buy up vast numbers of distressed mortgages held by ailing financial institutions. ...more

September 19, 2008

The flow of money through critical parts of the financial system all but stopped Wednesday, prompting the stock market to plunge again as banks lost faith in one another and investors rushed to U.S. government securities to protect their savings. ...more

September 18, 2008

Shares of troubled banks Washington Mutual Inc. and Wachovia Corp. recovered on Tuesday as investors grew hopeful that American International Group Inc. would receive much-needed funding. ...more

September 17, 2008

General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner unveiled the automaker's long-awaited electric car Tuesday and said the turmoil in U.S. financial markets should not affect government loan guarantees that would help the auto industry develop high-tech vehicles. ...more

September 17, 2008

Shares of Washington Mutual staged a late rally Thursday, recouping some of this week's steep losses as investors pumped money back into the banking sector despite ongoing concerns. ...more

September 12, 2008

Washington Mutual Inc., ravaged by losses from sour mortgages, replaced Kerry Killinger as chief executive of the nation's largest savings and loan on Monday, adding him to the growing list of banking bosses ousted by their boards. Its shares sank almost 22 percent. ...more

September 9, 2008

The government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac promises some real benefits for the Tampa Bay area, which for months has struggled under the force of the nation's housing downturn. ...more

September 9, 2008