A temporary meaningless fix. What are they going to do when Ford, Delta, United Airlines, the Bank of America, Chrysler come to them with their hands out? Are they intending to magic the money for all comes?

Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, UK

So people will defend the banks getting billions from the tax payer to wipe out their bad debts..which basically means that they have carte Blanche to make money any way they wish and if they lose it they get it back anyway..the system then is morally bankrupt if this is accepted as ethical.

Corbo, Norwich, England

I find it hard to believe that no one has deliberately lied for personal gain in connection with this mess. Were they all just a little confused? I doubt it. Yet nowhere do I hear any suggestion that prosecutions for criminal deception are appropriate. Why is that? Are the crooks in charge...?

John Stobart, Oakham, Rutland, UK

Never mind KYC (Know your client) ,it's now KYB (Know your bank)!!

Toni, Cape Town, RSA

what was mr. Paulson doing when these TOXIC assets were being created, enjoying the banker's parties I suppose.
This will only delay the problim not 'Cure' it.
its always common people who loose out.

Dr K G A, Scunthorpe, N LINCS

don't be fooled......... this bounce is only for 2-3 weeks, .
DOW is heading for 9000 & FTSE for 3500 !!

Stella, Scunthorpe,

America: "The land of the free"????

Joan Thorpe, Conwy, Wales UK

Huh? I think Bush was a slightly above average president, but I'm puzzled by the global response. For 8 years critics around the world have called Bush a fool. Now that he takes control of Wall St., global investors rush to buy stock. I guess when the chips are down, the world has faith in Bush.

Joseph, New York City, USA

So America is Nationalised at last,will it mean the million $ bonuses will continue? or have they lost their bonuses?

C Smith, Burlington, Canada

So America is Nationalised at last,will it mean the million $ bonuses will continue? or have they lost their bonuses?

C Smith, Burlington, Canada

I just cannot understand how the taxpayer paying billions makes the banks responsible for their own stupidity. The whole thing is flawed, and there is no ownership or responsibility here. They have all got away with it at our expense.

pete best, Milton Keynes, UK

At least the CHINESE GOVERNMENT is willing to say what no others are prepared to say.
The FEDERAL RESERVE is RESPONSIBLE for the Wall Street finantial MELTDOWN, due to its continued issuance of more and more CURRENCY.

And the FEDS solution to the current economic problems is? PRINT EVEN MORE.

Lorna, Halifax, England

Allowing people access to cheap mortgages is where this all started in the first place. Once the banks debt has been cleared by the US gov't it will start all over again.

Richard, London,

The danger of banning short selling is that the real price on the market has been distorted. Meaning once the ban is lifted in a free market the real price be determined. Therefore expect to see another crash early next year. Banks will collaspe on credit problems and not by a handfull of traders.

des, London, UK

This is just more profitering. Stocks rise on a maybe again? The fact that the solution is not guaranteed to work should have seen stocks do......nothing. I don't know about short selling but I would limit trading until the real values of these companies are seen in relation to the wider plan.

Paulo, London,

If Labour really wanted to reestablish confidence in banks they should show proactive leadership and guarantee deposits up to £250,000. Once there is a run it will be too late. The dollar and pound will fall, but how far? This will help manufacturing, the root of a healthy economy. Courage required!

Chris, London,

The reaction of the financial markets to the bailout says it all, this was an 11th hour desperate measure to avoid catastrophic meltdown (details yet unknown) yet our crazy marketeers have reacted in a frenzy of joy and the indices have shot up as if all is now well .........I think not!

David Barratt, Exmouth, u k

Share in private companies should not be subsidised using public money. Any profits these companies now make should be repaid in full to the taxpayer.

Paul, Coventry,

The market doesn't like shocks, including massive 'record' rises. If the banking community think the indices are going back to record levels of last year, think again. US/UK economies are in the toilet overall but as far as the DOW/FTSE are concerned, we're booming!

Brace yourselves......

John, London,

I am sitting here at the moment totally puzzled by how this bail out makes financial institutions who are millions of pounds in debt a more viable proposition.
Why would I or anyone risk their money to buy shares in such companies, I would rather keep my money in my pocket than gamble with it.

william thomson, lincoln, uk

Relief?

Wheres my relief as the Fdd bailed out AIG but exempted its UK operations from this and my AIG Bond cant redeem my cash and are telling us to expect losses.

Seem that AIG is not as solid as we are told after all.

S.Boland, Welwyn, England

Big banks caused a massive collapse in silver bullion prices by huge short selling. Now they suffer from short selling. What
happens ? They spit the dummy out and go crying home to mummy. By all means ban short selling but make sure we ban
BANKS from short selling bullion !!

Trevor, Looe, England

Toxic mess pushed to the corner and ignored.
The cause of this crunch was an explosion in the money supply, and we are told that another explosion will resolve this ?
NO it will create inflation.
With greater inflation we will notice the toxic corner less and less, perhaps that is the true plan.

Joe, Geelong, VIC Australia

James, London, spot on.
Do these "bankers" have no shame, cheerleaders whenever blue collar workers go to the wall they go crying cap in hand when it is their turn. Pathetic. It is time politicians took a clear stand on this issue and an election called.

john, tokyo,

it is a sorry state of affairs when the world is beholden to this lot who in good times win and in bad times are bailed out like a spoilt child. by the way, to hell and back is such a way off the mark bit of terminology when considers what else people suffer in this world as compared to this lot...

James, London, UK

Ah, now the banker's bonuses are directly paid by the taxpayers. Great innovation.

Peter, Liverpool, UK

Wasn't bailing out Bear Stearns and then Fannie and Freddie supposed to save the system? Is this just pouring money down the same plug hole?

Simon, Epsom, UK

Well looks like things will get back to normal then.Money well spent then. Bankers will go back to earning their seven figure salaries for doing nothing. Given the oportunity they will screw anything and everything again to make sure they get their bonuses.

aj, london, uk

In the mean time, us mere mortals can get back to our jobs and start paying off the bill for their previous acceses and mistakes of these bankers. By the time we've payed off this bill in 20 years they would have created another financial mess for us to bail out. History repeats
When will we learn!

aj, london, uk

paulson should now pursue those who caused this mess with their fake safe investments and sequester all of their assets to be ploughed back into the funds that are being used to bail us all out!!! We must know who they are!!!!!

phil durrant, York,

God bless America!

James McCullough, Queens, New York, United States of America