Friday, September 19, 0730 GMT

Top stories

The Times: The Financial Services Authority banned short selling of shares in all British financial companies until January 16.

New York Times: The US Government is considering buying distressed mortgages at deep discounts in the biggest ever financial bailout; it saw markets lift 4 per cent.

Reuters: The US Federal Reserve pumped $105 billion (£58 billion) into US markets on top of a $180 billion (£100 billion) rescue plan by the world's major central banks.

Comment

David Wighton in The Times: Barclays and Lloyds TSB's credit-crunch purchases could pay handsomely, but they increase the risk profile for both banks.

Damian Reece in the Daily Telegraph: To help capitalism recover, the FSA should help the walking wounded into the arms of the healthy, not restrict it.

Lex in the Financial Times: Regulators have banned it for financial stocks, but short-sellers were already squeezing themselves into losing positions.

Upside

The Times: Barclays will raise £1.3 billion ($2.3 billion) in a share issue and from existing investors to help pay for Lehman Brothers' US investment banking unit.

New York Times: Quarterly profit at Oracle, the world's second largest software maker, rose 28 per cent to $1.1 billion (£609 million), beating expectations.

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