WASHINGTON
HOUSE AND SENATE staff members are working feverishly to iron out a compromise consumer bankruptcy reform bill before Congress adjourns. Page 2
COMMUNITY
A long-running feud reached new heights when the Farm Credit System's most outspoken critic released his estimates of the tax breaks it gets. Page 8
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Fund companies and banks that sell investment products are trying to help their customers reevaluate their investment goals. Page 10
MORTGAGES
Home equity specialists at an asset-backed securities conference in Bermuda insisted that last week's sudden bankruptcy filing by Southern Pacific Funding was not a sign of things to come. Page 12
The booming refinance business and a tight labor market are forcing mortgage companies to pony up for experienced loan officers and executives. Page 13
CORPORATE FINANCE
Risk management has become a "virtuous profession" in banking, but credit standards have deteriorated badly, L.M. "Bud" Baker told bankers at a Robert Morris Associates conference. The chairman of Wachovia said the notion that risk management is not as important as in the past is "foolish." Page 29
PPM Finance, a Chicago affiliate of Jackson National Life Insurance, said it acquired the assets of AT&T Commercial Finance from Newcourt Credit Group of Toronto. Page 29
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
SMART CARDS: Underscoring its intention to play in the American- dominated big leagues of high technology, Gemplus of France hired a former Intel executive as chief financial officer. Page 14
CARDS
A $1.3 billion South Carolina thrift is trying to interest other financial institutions in its version of a travel rewards card. Page 15
TECHNOLOGY
Telebank is hoping to capitalize on Asia's financial crisis by marketing Internet banking services in Chinese. Page 20
MARKETS
In light of the global economic slowdown, Chase Manhattan president Thomas Labrecque said his company is looking closely at expenses and might cut some jobs-but won't depart any area of the world. Page 30
Banks sank again in another volatile trading session. Analysts said that until investors see concrete signs that the economic crises worldwide are under control, there is little reason to return to the sector. Back page
