Markets in meltdown on Lehman bankruptcy

The UK's index of leading shares opened at 5416.7 and has now fallen to 5218.3, as news of the collapse of the US's fourth biggest investment bank smashed investor confidence. Barclays and Bank of America had been in weekend talks to save Lehman, but failed to make a deal to prevent its rapid failure. Lehman Brothers Holdings will now file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection – while its principal UK trading subsidiary, Lehman Brothers International (Europe), was placed into administration earlier this morning. Paris’ CAC 40 has dived 4.32% to 4145.55 so far, while Frankfurt’s Dax is...