Indian equities, today (Sep 25), opened positively and soon slipped into the negative zone. After trading negatively for few minutes, the index bounced back into positive and again fell into the negative to trade on a flat note. 

The stock index is presently trading in a volatile manner prior to September series F&O expiry. Moreover, the question regarding the fate of the US financial sector bailout plan will carry on disturbing the market reaction.

Washington - US President George W Bush plans to meet Thursday in Washington with presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain as well as congressional leaders to discuss the ongoing US financial crisis and a proposed 700-billion-dollar rescue.

Congress turned increasingly skeptical in hearings Wednesday toward the Bush administration's bailout plan. The president was scheduled to give a television address to the nation late Wednesday.

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened lower Thursday as investors sold stocks to lock in profits amid uncertainties over the fate of the US government's financial bailout plan.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 103.72 points in morning trading, or 0.86 per cent, to 12,011.31.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 10.52 points, or 0.9 per cent, at 1,157.45.

Tokyo players sold a wide range of issues amid concern about when the US Congress would pass a government plan to bail out distressed financial institutions.

Washington - Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain issued a joint statement late Wednesday on the ongoing financial crisis and proposed 
700-billion-dollar rescue plan to revive credit markets.

The American people are facing a moment of economic crisis. No matter how this began, we all have a responsibility to work through it and restore confidence in our economy. The jobs, savings, and prosperity of the American people are at stake," the two senators said.