Paris - With investors apparently encouraged by the wide-ranging bank rescue plan announced by euro-zone leaders late Sunday, French shares rebounded strongly on Monday.

In mid-afternoon, the CAC 40 index was up a healthy 7.43 per cent, to 3,412.58, with 39 of 40 listed stocks gaining ground.

The surge was led by industrials, on the belief that credit would flow again to businesses and consumers.

Steel giant ArcelorMittal was up 17.86 per cent, to 25.83 euros, while energy supplier GDF Suez gained 16.77 per cent, to 28.37 euros.

Doha - Amid the global financial crisis Qatar Investment Authority announced Monday that it is buying between 10 and 20 per cent of the capital of Qatar's native banks listed on the stock market, reported the Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV channel.

The decision came to enhance confidence in the Qatari stock market, noting that it will buy the banks shares at Sunday's closing price.

The announcement came at a meeting attended by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, representatives of the banks listed on the Doha Securities Market and the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank.

Madrid - Santander, Spain's leading bank, plans to take advantage of the ongoing financial crisis to take control of Sovereign Bancorp, which has suffered recent losses, according to a media report.

Negotiations for the takeover are still underway, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, quoting Santander.

According to the report, Santander wants to offer about 1.8 billion euros (2.5 billion dollars) for Sovereign Bancorp, in which the bank already has a 25 per cent stake.

Santander bought that stake three years ago, when Sovereign's shares sold for 27 dollars. Now they are worth 3.80, which means Santander has lost about 2 billion euros on the investment.

Warsaw - The Polish National Bank has prepared a "package of trust" to preserve the stability of Poland's banking system, president of the bank Slawomir Skrzypek said on Monday.

"We want to propose certain structures," Skrzypek said, "thanks to which the Polish National Bank will influence a growth in trust for transactions between banks."

Skrzypek said more details will be given during a meeting with banks on Tuesday.

The conservative Law and Justice party recently called for an agreement by political parties and the government to work with the national bank, financial regulators and labour unions to ward off damage to Poland.

Brussels - The European Commission on Monday said it would clear Irish plans to guarantee bank deposits after the government agreed to extend such protection to big foreign banks operating in the country.

"The European Commission welcomes the various changes and commitments made and the close cooperation with the Irish authorities over the last week," the EU executive said in a statement.

"The Commission will proceed urgently to the adoption of a decision on the Irish scheme in accordance with EU state aid rules," it said.

Ireland was the first EU country to guarantee deposits in Irish banks amid news of crumbling government finances and the ongoing global credit crisis.