Lehman collapse hits Asian shares

The global financial community is reeling from Lehman's demise
Leading Asian markets have plunged in the aftermath of the demise of top US investment bank Lehman Brothers.
Shares in Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan are down by 4 to 6%, having been shut on Monday for a bank holiday.
The figures reflected earlier falls in Europe and the US, which on Monday had its worst day's trading since 9/11.
The fourth-largest US investment bank, Lehman filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, becoming the latest victim of the global credit crunch.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei-225 index dropped 5.3% in morning trading, Shanghai's index fell around 4%, and shares in South Korea and Hong Kong shares shed about 6% in value.
Markets in Taipei and Singapore were also sharply down, and the pattern was repeated in Australia and New Zealand, although the falls were smaller.
The collapse of Lehman, which had incurred billions of dollars of losses from the failing US mortgage market, threatened to deal a further blow to other financial institutions, as they unwind deals with the former investment giant.
Shockwaves
Stock markets in Europe plummeted on Monday as Lehman's failure raised fears about the strength of the global financial system. Banking shares were hardest hit.
I am confident that our financial markets are flexible and resilient and can deal with these adjustments
US President George W Bush
US policy challenge
Q&A: Lehman collapse
Lehman pension scheme in deficit
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 4.5%, while the FTSE 100 index of leading UK shares closed down 4%.
Meanwhile, there are fears AIG, once the world's largest insurers, could also face collapse. It is taking steps to raise money amid reports it is seeking an emergency loan from the US Federal Reserve.
Central banks have moved to reassure markets. The US Federal Reserve has broadened its emergency lending scheme and the UK and European central banks have injected a total of $39bn into the financial system.
Merrill Lynch, another leading US investment bank also stung by the credit crunch, agreed to be taken over by Bank of America in a dramatic weekend of events for Wall Street.
The $50bn deal means that three of the top five US investment bank have fallen prey to the financial crisis within six months.
'Rough spots ahead'
Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said the US was "working through a difficult period in our financial markets right now as we work off some of the past excesses".

Paulson upbeat despite turmoil
He said Americans could remain confident in the "soundness and resilience" of the US financial system.
But he warned that uncertainty remained and it was likely that there would be further "rough spots" ahead until the correction of the US housing market was completed.
Mr Paulson said he was committed to working with regulators in the US and abroad, as well as policymakers in Congress to take the necessary steps "to maintain the stability and orderliness of our financial markets".
But he gave no details of what such steps might mean.
Earlier in the day President George W Bush said: "In the long term I am confident that our financial markets are flexible and resilient and can deal with these adjustments."


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