For more on the financial crisis, check outGlobeSt.com's Webinar, "Wall Street In a Freefall—TheWinners and Losers."

BERLIN-Countries around the globe are scrambling to assure theirpeople that bank deposits are safe, as governments agreed to rescuetwo major companies and the US financial troubles, slow to recoverafter the $700 billion bailout plan, spread worldwide. Germany hasagreed to loan $68 billion to save Hypo Real Estate Holding AG, andthe Dutch government, partnered with BNP Paribas, rescued FortisBank Nederland (Holding) NV and Fortis Insurance Belgium for $36.8billion.

Stocks in the US, reacting to the global news and inpatient forthe $700 billion to be infused into the economy, plunged more than500 points to less than 10,000 points for the first time since2008. President Bush's Working Group on Financial Markets issued astatement to ask for patience. "Conditions in US and globalfinancial markets remain extremely strained," the group said in thestatement, promising to work with market participants andregulators globally to address the current challenges and restoreconfidence and stability to financial markets around the world.