Today's News

WASHINGTON

Regulators have clarified parts of the Community Reinvestment Act rules, but postponed action until next year on more controversial provisions. Page 3

NATIONAL/GLOBAL

Giant financial companies in industrial nations are grabbing up troubled banks in emerging-market countries. Page 4

COMMUNITY/REGIONAL

California's new treasurer wants to spread the state's funds around to more community banks. Page 7

A customer sues his bank, saying it tricked him into buying two businesses that were about to default on $1 million of loans. Page 8

MORTGAGES

Internet lenders, which had geared their products to younger borrowers, are refocusing on baby boomers, who are Web-savvy and have more money. Page 11

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dismissed an unflattering HUD report, calling it unscientific and riddled with errors. Page 11

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

ON-LINE BANKING: Home Account Network said it is buying First Data's direct banking operations. The company would provide data services to midsize institutions that are "wrestling with how they will do Internet banking," said Charles White, the CEO of Home Account. Page 13

Spyrus has added one more data encryption standard to its product menu as it seeks to cover the full spectrum of information security needs. Page 13

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Dreyfus Brokerage Services plans to offer after-hours trading to retail investors this summer. Page 9

TECHNOLOGY

Reuters Group has made an equity invest-ment in Entegrity Solutions, a California firm that specializes in security technologies for electronic commerce. Page 14

CARDS

Payment software rivals Trintech Group and GlobeSet announced major additions to their product lines for electronic commerce. Page 16

American Express has introduced a frequent-flier card for small businesses in Canada-the commercial counterpart to its successful consumer Air Miles card. Page 16

MARKETS

An A.G. Edwards & Sons analyst downgraded shares of First Security of Salt Lake City to "maintain" from "accumulate," citing concerns about balance sheet management. Back page