London - Bank shares on the London stock market showed a slight recovery Wednesday as markets anticipated the eventual passage of the US rescue plan.

Manila - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Wednesday it extended a 250-million-dollar loan to help strengthen the Philippine government's fiscal management and reform programmes.

The Manila-based ADB said the loan will help the Philippine government in dealing with the adverse impact of the recent developments in the global economy.

It will also boost the government's efforts to implement measures to strengthen the investment climate with focus on reducing red tape, and support for infrastructure policy and rural development.

The shares of ICICI witnessed a decline 12.11 per cent and closed at Rs. 493 on the fear of its large exposure in the US market. However, the largest private bank of India, said that its UK subsidiary has almost zero exposure in the U.S. sub-prime credit. .The Sensex declined by 10% in last week and shares of ICICI also declined by about 2 percent in the same period.

The lack of clarity over the losses and exposure of bank also contributes in the falling of share prices.

Amsterdam - ABN Amro personnel have demanded that the bank continue as an independent entity, Joop Hofland of the De Unie worker's union said on Dutch television on Tuesday.

"The call among ABN Amro employees to continue as an independent bank is very strong," Hofland said.

The Netherlands' two biggest workers unions, FNV Bondgenoten and CNV, recommended a delay of the sale of ABN Amro on Tuesday until the markets regain some stability.

De Unie's Hofland in contrast called for a quick solution for ABN Amro, the Dutch consumer banking division of troubled Belgian-Dutch financial giant Fortis.

The bankers on Monday put forth their demand in front of the Apex bank to slash the Cash Reserve Ratio. (CRR). Concerned about the liquidity shortage, the bankers pleaded to monitor the situation and take significant steps to counter the same. The meeting took place on Monday when the bankers met the RBI officials before the onset of mid-term review of monetary policy scheduled for next month.

London - Bank shares tumbled on the London stock exchange Tuesday following the rejection by the US House of Representatives of the massive US bail-out plan.