Topic: Washington Mutual Inc.

Bankruptcy court lets Washington Mutual reorganize

Bankruptcy reorganization calls for failed bank to distribute $7 billion to creditors and 418 million to shareholders.  Bankruptcy proceedings took more than three years.

iConomics: Six things to learn from Apple

Apple has ascended to 'über-success,' and other companies could learn a lot from watching.

Credit cards way past due? Call the company anyway.

Credit cards went unpaid for months, so what now? That's question No. 2 in the reader mailbag..

Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase object of mortgage lawsuits

Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase are being sued by homeowners who say that banks failed to honor mortgage contracts, foreclosing on families making payments on proposed modifications.

Goldman Sachs hearing: Is Congress missing the point?

Senators in Tuesday's Goldman Sachs hearing browbeat the firm for profiting on its pessimistic view of the mortgage market. But the bigger problem, perhaps, was the irrational optimism.

Obama moves to cut big banks down to size

President Obama Thursday proposed new limits on banks' size as well as their ability to take risks. The move is part of reform measures to avert a repeat of the practices that led to the financial crisis. The stock market fell in response to the news.

JPMorgan earnings show 'too big to fail' banks getting bigger

JPMorgan Chase's surging earnings show that many of the biggest US banks are becoming more powerful. What happens if they get in trouble again?

Volcker: Financial bailout could make next crisis worse

Former Fed Chair Paul Volcker says the problem is ‘moral hazard’ – policies leading investors and bankers to believe they can take future risks without bearing the full cost.

One goal of Obama's 'sweeping overhaul': prevent another AIG

The plan seeks to contain the risk of large-firm failure. It would also give regulators alternatives to costly AIG-style bailouts.

A major investment risk: Congress at work

When Congress is in session, stock prices tend to stall or fall. When Congress is out of session, they tend to soar.

Affordable housing hits a wall in time of rising need

New construction has stalled across the US, as the faltering economy chokes off a key source of funding.

Axed by a big business? Start your own.

Unemployed seek fulfillment in new careers from pet care to finding jobs for moms.

USA

Credit crisis spawns a hunt for culprits

Nearly 100 federal investigations are under way, but getting guilty verdicts is tough.

Bloomberg: a mayor of few options

Will New York City's mayor do an end run around term limits?

Dow's historic drop reflects financial system's challenges

After 778-point plunge, markets need private investment and bank restructuring for a recovery.

Will bank bailout revive growth?

Banks will still need to recapitalize and start lending again.

AIG bailout: Where does financial crisis lead next?

Other large firms may be close to the brink.

Wall Street woes: why world's investors sit on sidelines

Job No. 1 for central bankers: restore confidence in markets.

Wall Street's tremors to reach Main Street

The biggest impact of Lehman's bankruptcy and other recent turmoil could be tighter credit.

Lehman: This time, feds let a big bank fall

As venerable Wall Street firms succumb to the home loan crisis, focus shifts to limiting taxpayer cost.

Lehman: The next bailout?

The rescue of Fannie and Freddie may have opened a new era of federal intervention in business.

USA

Proxy ballots: your chance to make a difference

Don't toss that envelope. Shareholder resolutions address issues ranging from executive pay to human rights.