The Big Picture

Financial Markets crisis: in graphics
Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk

It is shaping up to be one of the most tumultuous times on record in the global financial markets.

The financial landscape is going through a period of upheaval with some major firms folding, other operations merging and a limited number of companies in both the Europe and the US, being rescued at a governmental level.

THE CASUALTIES
As the global financial crisis has worsened, the number of firms to crumble or be bought out has increased.

The Casualties

BAIL-OUT BILL
Governments have spent billions of dollars on rescue packages – although the proposed US rescue package of $700bn has yet to be approved.

STOCK MARKETS
In London, confidence in the markets fell with news of Bradford and Bingley’s nationalisation.
Banking shares have been the worst hit by the financial turmoil.

FTSE 100 INDEX: 16 September 2008 - present

In Japan, the main Nikkei index lost 3% in value following news of the failure of the US bail-out plan.

NIKKEI 225 INDEX: 16 September 2008 - present

After the failure of the US bail-out plan, the Dow Jones index lost 770 points, 6.9%, its biggest one-day fall since the present crisis began.

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE: 16 September 2008 - present

SHARE PRICES
Banks have continued to suffer the steepest falls in share prices. HBOS share prices fell sharply on Tuesday, down 26% at one point, before picking up again.

Royal Bank of Scotland shares have followed a very similar downward path. The bank suffered a pre-tax loss of £691m in the first six months of 2008, the second biggest in UK banking history.

US bank Merrill Lynch was taken over by Bank of America on 15 September prompting an initial recovery in shares, but they have since dipped again.

Fortis shares were falling sharply until a rescue deal was mounted by European banks on 29 September.

COMMODITIES
The price of metals and oil has also been affected by the financial chaos. After reaching a record high in July of $147 a barrel, the price of oil has fallen and is now back under the $100 mark.
Gold has fluctuated significantly.