business - "credit"

SunTrust Banks said it expected to maintain its dividend and would not issue additional equity, responding to speculation the bank would need to shore up its capital base against credit losses

A resurgence of oil prices and financial sector credit fears on Friday knocked global equities to near the year's lows and dragged down the dollar as interest rates fell on U.S. government debt.

Wall street stock markets slumped to three-month lows as oil prices rebounded, knocking consumer-facing stocks, while analyst and ratings downgrades for financials stoked fears that the credit crisis has further to play out

AP - Stocks capped a difficult week with steep losses Friday amid escalating worries about the financial and automotive sectors and a rebound in oil prices. The major indexes fell by more than 1 1/2 percent on the day, and the Dow Jones industrial average gave up more than 200 points to end at its lowest level in three months.

US and European stocks on Friday closed at their lowest levels since March, as worries about the financial sector continued to plague equity and credit markets this week

The dollar on Friday was headed for its biggest weekly decrease against the euro in almost three months on speculation that the Federal Reserve will delay increasing borrowing costs to prevent further credit market write-downs.

Credit market sentiment deteriorated after MBIA's credit rating was cut from triple A to single A in one fell swoop, highlighting the uncertainty that continues to hang over the bond insurance sector

NEW YORK, NY (MARKET WIRE) The Securities Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes, P.A. (http://www.nasd-law.com) said today that claims against Bear Stearns on behalf of investors in Bear Stearns' High-Grade Structured credit Strategies and High-Grade Structured credit Strategies Enhanced Leverage Funds ('the Bear Funds') are expected to increase following the criminal indictment, Cr. No. 08 415, of the former managers of the Bear Funds. (Bear Stearns is now a part of JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM)).

Troubling news about the financial sector has been piling up all week, driving the stock market back toward the levels it plummeted to in March

Stocks slumped Friday, ending a tough week on a low note as renewed worries about the credit market crisis and inflation sent the Dow to a three-month low.