Sponsored by Jpmorgan chase

A private equity-led buyout of home-improvement retailer Home Depot Inc's wholesale supply division, due to close on Thursday, could be in trouble because investment banks involved are reluctant to fund the transaction even at a lower price, the Financial Times reported in its online edition, citing people familiar with the negotiations.

The four largest U.S. banks, led by Citigroup and Bank of America Corp., took the unusual step of borrowing $2 billion directly from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, as the Fed tries to stabilize tempestuous financial markets by adding money to the banking system.

Stocks were little changed on Monday as investors mulled the likelihood of more Federal Reserve action after Friday's surprise cut in the rate at which banks borrow from it.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday after the Federal Reserve cut the discount rate at which it lends to banks in a surprise move to keep worsening credit conditions from hurting the economy.

A remarkable end-of-day rally pushed the benchmark S&P 500 higher on Thursday after investors snatched up financial stocks that looked cheap after weeks of pummeling by global credit market turmoil.

Reliant Pharmaceuticals Inc. filed with U.S. regulators on Friday to raise up to $400 million in an initial public offering of common stock.

Big wasn't beautiful on Thursday.

A limited partner in a failed hedge fund run by Bear Stearns says the investment bank took only meager steps to prevent the fund's recent collapse.

Stocks fell sharply on Thursday as another shoe dropped in the U.S. subprime mortgage sector meltdown, causing investors to flee riskier assets for the relative safety of government bonds. Stocks added to their declines after the Wall Street Journal reported a second Goldman Sachs Group Inc. hedge fund was suffering losses and was selling its positions.

Banks including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and HSBC might be interested in buying Bear Stearns Cos at the right price, but there would be real obstacles to a deal happening anytime soon, analysts said.

Stocks rallied on Monday as investors snapped up beaten-down shares of financial companies after a sharp drop at the end of last week on mounting concerns about the stability of the credit markets.

Shares of Bear Stearns Cos. slid 7 percent late Monday morning after the investment bank's co-president quit amid growing concerns about the company's mortgage investments.

More signs of weakness in the mortgage market, another surge in oil prices and a Federal Reserve rate decision could create more turbulence for Wall Street this week.

Investment bank JPMorgan's India unit has lost four senior executives, the latest in a series of moves in the country's financial sector, where salaries have soared on the back of a booming stock market.

Stocks slid sharply on Friday after Bear Stearns said credit markets were in their worst shape in two decades, while jobs data aroused further concerns about weakness in the economy.

A top executive of Bear Stearns Cos., which has been hit by the collapse of two of its hedge funds and forced to halt redemptions at a third, shrugged off concerns about a global credit crunch on Thursday and said the recent market decline was healthy.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index slid in a highly erratic session on Wednesday, as concerns about worsening credit conditions persisted and a sharp downturn in the price of oil sent energy companies' shares lower.

Investors worry that deteriorating borrowing conditions will saddle lenders -- and not just Citigroup -- with too many soured investments.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. said on Monday it received final approval to set up a locally incorporated bank in China, one of the latest firms given the go-ahead for possible retail operations in the country.

Citigroup Inc., the largest U.S. bank, said on Friday that strong international growth fueled a higher-than-expected 18 percent increase in quarterly profit. Revenue rose faster than expenses for a second consecutive quarter, as Chief Executive Charles Prince continued to emphasize controlling costs.

Bank of America Corp., the second-largest U.S. bank, said on Thursday quarterly profit rose 5 percent, as private equity and investment banking gains offset lower retail banking earnings and worsening loan quality.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. said on Wednesday it tripled the amount it set aside for loan losses as home equity borrowers missed payments, hurting the bank's second-quarter net income growth.

Treasury bond yields edged lower in Europe on Wednesday after Bear Stearns told investors two of its hedge funds had very little value, and stocks were hit by weaker-than expected company earnings.

The threatened buyout of student lender Sallie Mae may still go ahead -- but the $25 billion price tag could be negotiated down.

Private equity firm Carlyle Group said on Monday it would buy aircraft and auto parts maker Sequa Corp. for $2 billion.

Bear Stearns Cos. may take until July 16 to tally losses at two struggling hedge funds that invested in risky mortgage-related securities, The Wall Street Journal Online reported on Monday.

Bain Capital will buy UK-based food service company Brakes from private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, the companies said on Friday.

Wall Street underwriters kept busy in the second quarter, yet ebbing investor appetite for lower-rated debt and riskier assets may dampen their summer.

Investors in two struggling Bear Stearns Cos. hedge funds that made bad bets on risky mortgages will almost surely file lawsuits in hopes of recouping losses, but legal experts say they could have a tough time proving their case.