The biggest bank failure in U.S. history and nose diving banking stocks added pressure on the U.S. Congress to agree to a $700 billion financial rescue plan to breath life back into credit markets.

Stocks rallied Thursday after a published report about potential suitors - including Bank of America - for troubled Lehman Brothers, giving investors some reassurance at the end of a choppy session.

Curtis Jensen, manager of Third Avenue Small-Cap Value, says a safe business is one that possesses a rock-solid balance sheet and the fortitude to weather unforgiving financial markets and rocky economic times.

May 2 (Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose, sending the region's benchmark index to its highest in more than three months, on speculation global credit-market turmoil will ease.

A government rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be costly for scores of investment, banking and insurance companies that hold billions of dollars in preferred shares in the mortgage finance giants.