保险商AIG(美国国际集团)也同样出现恶兆，该集团于9月16日被三大评级机构调降评级，如果公司不能理清账目，将面临评级继续下调的威胁。信用评级对大公司来说至关重要，调降评级通常是走向破产的第一步。结果，因为AIG的崩溃会对美国甚至全球市场造成灾难性恶果，美国联邦银行以850亿美元买下AIG 80%的股份。

    Sub-Prime Mortgages and the Credit Crunch

    次级抵押贷款和信贷紧缩

    Over the last twenty years, real estate in the West has risen massively and rapidly in value.Housing, previously seen as a safe, slow investment, became the subject of massive speculation, with many families taking out mortgages of 90% or even 120%, in the anticipation of a sharp rise in the sale price in the future. Banks were also willing to finance these mortgages even when the borrowers had a poor credit rating or an insecure source of income. These risky loans were known as sub-prime mortgages. Many banks have been accused of exploitative business practice with such loans including misinforming buyers, especially about adjustable rate mortgages.

    在过去20年当中 ......