Dimon dangles carrots to win support for takeover

JPMorgan Chase & Co Chairman Jamie Dimon offered Bear Stearns Cos managing directors cash and stock incentives to win their support for a takeover and prevent them from leaving the firm, two people familiar with the matter said.

Swiss bank set to post Q1 loss

Credit Suisse Group, Switzerland's second-largest bank, probably will post its first quarterly loss since 2003 after writing down debt securities that were deliberately mispriced by traders.

Citigroup to cut securities jobs

Citigroup Inc, the biggest US bank by assets, plans to cut more than 5 percent of staff in the securities unit to rein back expenses after US subprime-mortgage related losses.

They're even tightening belts in Beverly Hills

Times are tough in Beverly Hills. Well, tougher, anyway.

Bernanke feels impact of US housing slump

The US housing recession has arrived literally on the doorstep of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Business International

Visa nets $17.9b in huge offering

Visa Inc, the largest payment-card network, set a record for US initial public offerings by raising $17.9 billion after the worst start for the Standard & Poor's 500 since 2001.

Coal makes a comeback in UK

Coal mining is making a comeback in the United Kingdom as the quest for secure energy supplies chips away at environmental objections and record high prices for the raw material make pits economically viable.

Unions 'threaten' Alitalia takeover

Air France KLM-Group Chief Executive Officer Jean-Cyril Spinetta said the company's offer to buy Alitalia SpA is "at risk" because of union opposition to the plan. Shares in the Italian carrier fell more than 20 percent for a third day.

New models expected to drive up Japanese car sales

Japan's passenger car sales may rise for the first time in two years next fiscal year as new models by Nissan Motor Co and Daihatsu Motor Co spur demand in the world's third-largest auto market.

IN BRIEF (Page 17)