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Morgan Stanley CEO seeking Wachovia deal, China investment to help stock price 。
Morgan Stanley's stock price plunged again Thursday as the investment bank scrambled to strike a major deal or raise more cash that will assuage investors and prevent more damage to its free-falling shares
John Mack, the No. 2 U.S. investment bank's chief executive, has reached out to China's Citic Group overnight about a possible investment, according to a person familiar with the talks. Morgan Stanley is also considering a combination with retail bank Wachovia Corp. and an investment from Singapore Investment Corp., one of the world's biggest sovereign wealth funds, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions were still ongoing,
Morgan Stanley shares have fallen 38 percent in the past week amid unprecedented turmoil in the global banking system. Investors remain anxious after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection, Merrill Lynch & Co. was forced into a sale to Bank of America Corp. and the federal government bailed out insurer American International Group.
The stock was down $8.50, or 39 percent, at $12.25, in midday trading.
Mack isn't the only CEO looking to strike some kind of a deal or capital infusion. Washington Mutual Inc., which has lost billions and seen its shares plummet due to subprime mortgage exposure, is selling itself or looking for a deep-pocketed investor. |
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