Seoul - South Korea's central bank on Friday lowered its key interest rate to 2.5 per cent, the fifth cut in three months, to help kick-start the country's economy.

The Bank of Korea's monetary policy committee lowered the benchmark seven-day repurchase rate by 0.5 per cent, its lowest level on record.

"Domestic economic activity is slackening at a rapid pace," the bank said.

Berlin  - The German government agreed Thursday to take a 25 per cent stake in the country's second biggest bank, Commerzbank, in return for providing a fresh infusion of capital.

Commerzbank said the state rescue fund for the banking sector, Soffin, would make available 10 billion euros (13.56 billion dollars) in addition to the 8.2 billion euros it provided in November.

Berlin - The German government will take a 25 per cent cent stake plus one share in the country's second biggest bank, Commerzbank, the bank announced Thursday.

Commerzbank said the move is in return for a fresh injection of capital by the state rescue fund Soffin, amounting to 10 billion euros (13.56 billion dollars).

Commerzbank, which is poised to take over rival Dresdner Bank at the end of January, has already received 8.2 billion euros in capital and guarantees of 15 billion euros from Soffin.

Berlin  - The German government will take a 25 per cent cent stake plus one share in one of the country's leading banks, Commerzbank, sources told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Thursday.

The newspaper Die Welt said the move was in return for a 10 billion-euro (13.56 billion dollars) injection of capital.

Earlier in the day, Commerzbank became the first German lender to issue a bond backed by state guarantees. The bank set the size of the bond at 5 billion euros.

Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), one of the leading PSU banks in India, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with India's leading car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. to publicize the loan scheme offered by Oriental Bank of Commerce.

As per MOU, the exclusive car dealers of Maruti Suzuki will publicize the loan scheme among the prospective car buyers and link them to the Bank for credit support for hassle-free process.

London, Jan 7 : Lloyds TSB, the leading financial institution, has topped the league table of the UK's most gay-friendly employers in a new survey.

The police services, banking and management consultant firms have outshined the public sector, media and education at the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2009.

Goldman Sachs, the global bank holding company landed at the 11th place.