SAD: Država pomaže Citigroupu

Američka vlada novčano će pomoći grupaciji Citigrop kako bi prevladala krizu.

MORE INFO: The announcement on Friday does not immediately inject more money into Citigroup, but gives Chief Executive Vikram Pandit more time to shrink the third-largest U.S. bank.

Jon Decker reports.

STORY: In one of the most dramatic efforts yet to prop up the ailing banking industry, the U.S. government will boost its stake in Citigroup to as much as 36 percent, bolstering the banking giant's capital base and giving the third-largest U.S. bank more time to sell unwanted assets and restore investor confidence.

Josh Bivens is an economist at the Economic Policy Institute.

SOUNDBITE: Josh Bivens, economist at the Economic Policy Institute, saying (English):

"Today's action to take a larger stake in Citigroup -- it's another transfer from taxpayers to shareholders in those institutions and it doesn't really do too much to reconcile the fundamental unhealthiness of those banks."

As part of the plan, the Treasury Department will swap up to $25 billion of its preferred shares into common stock, dramatically diluting existing shareholders. The deal calls for Citigroup - which lost $28 billion last year - to stop paying dividends on its preferred and common stock, and promise to shake up its board of directors.

The bailout is the third aid package that Citigroup has gotten from the government since October.

Jon Decker, Reuters.