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S&P dives to lowest level since 1997 (Reuters)
 

A trader watches a trade monitor on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, November 20, 2008. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)Reuters - Stocks plunged yet again on Thursday, as a frantic flight from risk prompted by investors' deepening economic fears drove the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 index to its lowest level since 1997 -- completing the erasure of more than a decade of stock market gains.



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Democrats demand U.S. Big 3 offer survival plan (Reuters)
 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)(R) and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) hold a news conference to discuss proposed automobile bailout legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 20, 2008. (Jim Young/Reuters)Reuters - Democratic congressional leaders, seeking to salvage a bailout of the Big Three automakers, demanded executives provide a business survival plan in exchange for their support of up to $25 billion in loans.



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Citigroup slides as WSJ says sale eyed (Reuters)
 

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in a file photo. (Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters)Reuters - Citigroup Inc lost more than one-quarter of its market value on growing worries over whether it has enough capital to withstand billions of dollars of potential losses and despite new support from its largest individual investor.



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Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac suspend some foreclosures (Reuters)
 

The headquarters of mortgage lender Freddie Mac is seen in Mclean, Virginia, near Washington in this September 8, 2008 file photo. (Jason Reed/Reuters)Reuters - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two biggest U.S. home loan finance companies, on Thursday said they would suspend foreclosures of occupied homes until early 2009, as the government moves to stem the tide of home losses plaguing the economy.



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Fed's Bullard: U.S. deflation an issue Fed must face (Reuters)
 
Reuters - Deflation would be very damaging to the United States economy and with nominal interest rates already very low, quantitative easing may be needed to keep it at bay, a top Federal Reserve official said on Thursday.
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FTSE suffers losses (AFP)
 

London shares were in the backfoot on Thursday as recession fears deepened on new data showing a surge in US jobless claims.(AFP/File/Carl de Souza)AFP - London shares were in the backfoot on Thursday as recession fears deepened on new data showing a surge in US jobless claims.



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Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac suspend some foreclosures (Reuters)
 

The headquarters of mortgage lender Freddie Mac is seen in Mclean, Virginia, near Washington in this September 8, 2008 file photo. (Jason Reed/Reuters)Reuters - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two biggest U.S. home loan finance companies, on Thursday said they would suspend foreclosures of occupied homes until early 2009, as the government moves to stem the tide of home losses plaguing the economy.



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British retailers discount to lure shoppers (AP)
 

A promoter hands out flyers on a central London  shopping street Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008 as the Marks and Spencers chain  runs a 20 per cent off sale.  Retail sales figures released for the UK  show figures down only 0.1% in October despite mounting evidence from retailers such as Woolworths PLC and Marks & Spencer PLC, that business conditions are extremely tough. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)AP - Britain's top retailers are hoping unusual pre-Christmas discounts can convince consumers to open their wallets during a holiday season that coincides with a looming recession.



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