Meanwhile, in credit news:

A slew of new data suggest the effects of the credit crisis are ricocheting around the globe as lenders grow increasingly distrustful of their own customers and each other.
In both the U.S. and Europe, uncertainty about the ability of governments to push through comprehensive financial-system rescue plans continued to weigh on bond and stock markets. On Thursday, the rate on government debt maturing in three months fell to just 0.6% — indicating investors are willing to accept low returns simply to avoid the risk of losing their principal.
The most worrying aspect of the crisis is a growing reluctance among financial institutions to offer basic loans that are the lifeblood of the economic system. The Federal Reserve said Thursday the situation had worsened over the past week. Its data showed lenders reduced short-term loans to companies by a record $94.9 billion, bringing the total decline to $208 billion over the past three weeks.