Today's News

NATIONAL/GLOBAL

Latin American companies have developed a taste for U.S.-style junk bonds. Page 5

Proposed mergers between four of Italy's biggest banks will trigger other in-market deals across Europe and set the stage for large cross- border transactions, banking analysts said. Page 6

Base salaries of technology positions continued to outpace other job categories at New York-area financial institutions last year, a survey found. Page 7

COMMUNITY/REGIONAL

New York's Carver Bancorp rejected an unsolicited offer to be acquired by a Boston bank - but the would-be suitor is not giving up. Page 8

To an outsider, it might have looked as if Community Financial Group had won the lottery. But bank officials say they were not nearly so lucky. Page 9

MORTGAGES

Wall Street is preparing for an influx of Japanese investment in fixed- income securities, particularly Treasuries and Ginnie Maes. Page 10

WASHINGTON

With federal regulators set to pound nails into the know-your-customer coffin today, many observers are still trying to figure out what went wrong. "There were obviously problems with the proposal," said Fed Assistant Director Richard A. Small, but a lot of people complained without ever reading it. Page 2

CARDS

Top executives from two of the largest credit card companies disagree about the impact of the Internet. Page 13

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

INSURANCE: Traditional life insurance agents' lead in policy sales will continue to narrow as banks, financial planners, and stockbrokers play catch-up, a Conning & Co. study predicts. Page 15

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: Operators of a Canadian on-line financial site are planning to take their brand of personal financial management into the United States. Page 18

TECHNOLOGY

BankBoston is using the World Wide Web to manage loans backing a complex multibillion-dollar securities deal. Page 19

MARKETS

Another senior staff member has flown the coop of the New York City money management firm Keefe Managers. Page 30

First Union and Wells Fargo are the early spring favorites of Wall Street analysts, according to data compiled for American Banker by First Call. Back page

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