If you were counting on a seasonal job during the upcoming holiday period, you may not want to count on that paycheck too soon. That's because one employment expert says it may tougher than ever to land either a full- or part-time seasonal gig this year.

The difficult economic times we're in have small business owners scouring their companies' books, looking for ways to improve cash flow and preserve their profits.

Banks are supposed to lend money, but they aren't doing very much of it these days. That is not the only cause of the global recession that is unfolding, but it is hard to see how economies can begin to recover without functioning financial systems.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will launch its biggest retail bank rescue on Monday when the four largest, HBOS, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and Barclays, ask for a combined 35 billion pound ($60.5 billion) lifeline, the Sunday Times reported.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The IMF warned the world's financial system was near meltdown and France promised that a meeting of European leaders in Paris will detail measures to keep a market panic from triggering the most severe global downturn in decades.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Finance leaders from the International Monetary Fund's 185 member countries on Saturday endorsed a plan by major economies to chart a course out of the credit crisis, hoping the broader support will calm markets.

The world is facing financial "meltdown", the International Monetary Fund warns, as it offers help to credit-starved countries.

Help the economy: buy a sweet $7,000 HDTV. (Then charge admission)

WASHINGTON/CANBERRA (Reuters) - Rich nations rushed to shore up the global financial system after the International Monetary Fund warned of meltdown, with Australia and New Zealand guaranteeing bank deposits and newspapers reporting plans for Britain's biggest retail bank rescue.

Britain will launch its biggest retail bank rescue on Monday when the four largest - HBOS, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and Barclays - ask for a combined $60.5 billion lifeline, the Sunday Times reported.