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Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 share indexes are down 0.2-0.4 percent at 0902 GMT, pointing to a lower start on Wall Street.

World stocks steadied around the previous day's near four-month high on Wednesday while the yen jumped as concerns over the health of Bank of America offset the impact of strong results from BNP Paribas.

Stocks slipped and the yen rose on Wednesday after news Bank of America needs $34 billion in extra capital startled investors who had grown more comfortable with risk ahead of official results of stress tests on U.S. banks due on Thursday.

Citigroup Inc may have to raise $5-$10 billion in new capital to meet a U.S. government requirement that it holds up to $55 billion in capital, the New York Times said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Stocks slid and the yen rose on Wednesday after news Bank of America needs $34 billion in fresh capital, sending shivers through investors ahead of official results of stress tests on U.S. banks due for release on Thursday.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, seeking to soothe markets worried about the eagerly awaited government stress tests of 19 big banks, on Tuesday downplayed the possibility of new taxpayer bailouts.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified at the Joint Economic Committee on Tuesday that he never asked Kenneth Lewis, chief executive officer of Bank of America Corp., to remain silent about the Merrill Lynch & Co. losses, before its January 1 acquisition.

About 10 of the 19 largest U.S. banks being stress tested will be instructed by regulators to raise more capital, according to a source familiar with official talks.

World stocks hit a fresh four-month high on Tuesday while government bonds steadied after signs of improvement in the U.S. housing sector and increasing optimism about banks triggered a rally on Wall Street.

U.S. regulators have deemed that about 10 of the 19 U.S. banks being stress tested will need to raise more capital, according to a source familiar with official talks.

Citigroup may put more employees on commission or offer them larger base salaries as it tries to retain key staffers without running afoul of laws limiting executive pay at banks that receive government funds.

Bank of America Corp , denying a media report, said it had no plans to raise $10 billion in common equity, while another report said Citigroup Inc was looking to raise capital from private investors.

Corrects 2nd para to show US regulators asked Wells Fargo to raise capital

U.S. stocks rallied on Monday, driving the S&P 500 into positive territory for the year as investors bet banks' capital shortfalls may be manageable and housing data fueled hopes the recession is easing.

The largest U.S. banks made the case to regulators on Monday that they have the financial firepower to withstand a deeper recession, as Bank of America denied a report it was trying to raise capital of $10 billion.

U.S. stocks rallied on Monday, driving the S&P 500 into positive territory for the year as investors bet banks' capital shortfalls may be manageable and housing data fueled hopes the recession is easing.

U.S. stocks rallied on Monday, driving the S&P 500 into positive territory for the year as investors bet banks' capital shortfalls may be manageable and housing data fueled hopes the recession is easing.

Warren Buffet is the largest shareholder in Wells Fargo. He claims it is a Fabulous Bank and would like to buy it all. Is he serious or is he just talking up his shares?

Stocks rose on Monday, pushing the benchmark S&P 500 above 900 for the first time since early January, on bets that banks won't have to raise as much capital as previously thought, and housing data fueled hopes that the recession is ebbing.

The United States' largest banks made their case to regulators on Monday that they have the financial firepower to withstand a deeper recession, as Bank of America denied a report it was trying to raise $10 billion.

Stocks rose on Monday as investors bet that the government's stress tests won't force banks to raise as much capital as originally thought and housing data fueled hopes that the economic slump is abating.

Stocks rose on Monday on bets the government's stress tests on the financial sector won't force banks to raise as much capital as originally thought and housing data reinforced hopes the economic slump is easing.

U.S. bank shares rose on Monday after analysts said government stress tests of financial institutions would show most would need less new capital than previously feared.

Stocks rose on Monday as investors bet the government's stress tests on the financial sector won't force banks to raise as much capital as originally thought, driving the market higher.

Bank of America Corp said on Monday it does not have plans to raise $10 billion in common equity, as the Financial Times had reported.

Bank of America Corp said on Monday it does not have plans to raise $10 billion in common equity, as the Financial Times had reported.

Wall Street was set for a modestly higher open on Monday as investors were hopeful banks will be able to raise any capital they may need as a result of findings in the government stress tests, but jitters over the health of the sector persisted.

Stock futures pointed to a higher open on Monday as investors were hopeful banks will be able to raise any capital they may need as a result of findings in the government stress tests.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Monday ahead of key housing data.