Economy

ROUNDUP: House approves massive US stimulus package, Senate next

ROUNDUP: House approves massive US stimulus package, Senate nextWashington  - US President Barack Obama's economic recovery package was set to clear its final hurdles Friday as both houses of Congress voted on a nearly
790-billion-dollar compromise bill to help pull the United States out of recession.

The House of Representatives approved the stimulus package - the largest single spending proposal in US history - by a vote of 246-183 Friday afternoon. The Senate was expected to follow suit Friday evening.

1ST LEAD: House approves massive US stimulus package, Senate next

House approves massive US stimulus package, Senate nextWashington  - US President Barack Obama's economic recovery package was set to clear its final hurdles Friday as both houses of Congress voted on a nearly
790-billion-dollar compromise bill.

The House of Representatives approved the stimulus package - the largest single spending proposal in US history - by a vote of 246-183 Friday afternoon, with no support from the chamber's minority Republicans. The Senate was expected to follow suit Friday evening.

URGENT: House approves US stimulus bill

House approves US stimulus bill Washington  - The US House of Representatives app

Obama nears finish on stimulus - House, Senate votes expected

Obama nears finish on stimulus - House, Senate votes expected Washington  - US President Barack Obama's economic recovery package was expected to clear its final hurdles Friday as both houses of Congress prepared to vote on a 789-billion-dollar compromise bill.

Obama, addressing business leaders at the White House, called the stimulus package a "once-in-a-generation chance to act boldly and turn adversity into opportunity."

Egypt cuts interest rates for first time in almost three years

Egypt cuts interest rates for first time in almost three years Cairo  - Egypt's central bank on Friday announced it would cut interest rates for the first time since 2006, in response to slowed economic growth and inflation.

The Central Bank of Egypt lowered the overnight deposit and lending rates by 100 basis points to 10.5 and 12.5 per cent, respectively, its first cut since April 2006.

Fortis shareholders reject crisis nationalization

Fortis shareholders reject crisis nationalization Brussels  - Shareholders in Dutch-Belgian bank Fortis on Wednesday rejected its emergency nationalization, throwing into chaos state plans to split up the crisis-hit lender.

In two votes, 57 per cent of shareholders rejected the sale of the Dutch parts of the bank to the Dutch state, while just over half of shareholders rejected the sale of the bank's Belgian arm to the Belgian state, and thence to French banking giant BNP Paribas, local media reported.

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